James Robert Oller, 89, passed away at 8:10 a.m.,Thursday, April 7, 2022 at Integrity Healthcare of Wood River. He was the son of Henry "Hank" Oller and Vera Esther (Nussman) Oller.

Bob was a U.S. Army veteran and served as a cook at Ft. Richardson, Alaska. Four of his six brothers also were veterans.

He worked as a meat cutter for Benred Meats for 22 years and upon the retirement of the owner, Ben Bono, Bob and his brother Henry bought the company and named it Benred Meats Company and Oller Meats. He also operated his own business as a wholesale meat distributor under the name "Oller Meats." Bob was a co-owner and later owner of "BOJACS" in Wood River for over 30 years.

He is survived by daughter Meg ((R.C.) Miller of Alton, six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; and sister Shirley Grace Brangenberg.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, James Robert Oller II, Robyn Dean Oller; six brothers, Willis Arthur, Oscar Eugene, Henry Leonard, Jackie Joe, Karl Kenneth and Donald O. Oller, and four sisters, Alvera "Sis" Evelyn Lawrence, Anna Imogene "Jean"Carson, Mildred Elizabeth"Peggy" Scheriff and Lavona Eileen "Mary" Wheelan.

Bob was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan from his youth as was his father. When Bob was younger he used to buy season tickets and could be seen at any home game. You cannot mention Bob without thinking of the Cardinals. His tavern BOJACS was full of his Cardinal memorabilia and still is until this day. If there were any articles in the paper about the game the day before, they were posted on his bulletin board early the next morning. When Bob was a teenager on the Oller farm, on Sunday afternoons in the summer he would run extension cords from inside the house outside to an old shade tree so he could listen to the game. He would throw an old blanket on the ground and lie in the shade (usually with a girlfriend) near the house. There was no air conditioning in those days and also no portable radios.

A Celebration of Life Memorial visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until the time of service at 7 p.m. Monday, April 18, 2022, at Marks Mortuary in Wood River. Pastor Ray Robinson will officiate.

Interment will be in Wanda Cemetery in South Roxana at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to Disabled American Veterans.