Robert William Ropa, a former Chicago firefighter and banking executive who worked as a volunteer tax preparer for decades, died April 16, 2026, in Palos Heights, Illinois. He was 84. The cause was kidney failure following a lengthy hospital stay.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Gail Ropa; his brother-in-law, LeRoy Sadauskas; six nieces and nephews: Nick Nowacki, Geri Nouri, Luke Sadauskas, Ashley Nowacki and Arvy Nowacki; two great-nieces and great-nephews: Adelyn Nouri and John Nouri; and numerous cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frances and William Ropa, and his brother-in-law, Russell Nowacki.
Ropa was born Dec. 19, 1941, in Chicago. He graduated from St. Rita High School and earned a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He worked briefly as a firefighter for the Chicago Fire Department before pursuing a career in banking and savings and loan institutions. He rose to president of Public Savings & Loan before the company merged with Clyde Savings and later became MB Financial.
Ropa was a member of the Father’s Club at St. Laurence High School and volunteered as a tax preparer for friends and acquaintances through 2025. He was an avid fan of Purdue and Iowa football and enjoyed fishing and winter sports. He and his wife maintained a home in Wonder Lake, Illinois, for 17 years before moving to Palos Heights.
A visitation and celebration of life will be held Saturday, April 25, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Ave., Justice, Illinois.
A service and time of remembrance will be held at the funeral home.
Cremation rites will be accorded.