E. Willard Lager spent more than eight decades in Palos Park, where he raised his family, served as mayor and remained active in the community throughout his life.
Lager, 102, died Oct. 6, 2026, at his home in Palos Park. He was born Oct. 21, 1923, in Chicago and moved to Palos Park with his family in 1939.
His years in the village included serving as mayor from 1963 to 1967. During his four years in office, Lager worked on infrastructure improvements and efforts to improve fire and police safety.
The village later recognized Lager at a council meeting of former mayors in honor of his 100th birthday. He also received a congratulatory letter from the White House.
Lager’s connection to Palos Park was not limited to his years in village government. He and his wife, Marilyn Ann Nicholson, raised their family in the community.
The couple met while attending the University of Chicago Laboratory High School and married June 15, 1946. They were married for 68 years before Marilyn died in 2014.
Their sons, Richard and Eric Alan, grew up in Palos Park. Eric died in 1995.
Lager remained active around his home and property for much of his life. He handled plumbing, electrical work, construction and other projects himself. His workshop included drill presses, lathe machines, table saws, welding equipment and pipe-threading machines.
He also maintained the property with a tractor and equipment used for mowing, snow removal and spreading fertilizer.
Lager enjoyed spending time with family at home and at local restaurants, including White Fence Farm and Hackney’s. He grilled steaks on the patio throughout the year and was a longtime customer at several area establishments.
He also went to the same barber, Angelo, for more than 50 years.
Lager was a financial supporter of Palos Park Community Church.
His family remained an important part of his life. He is survived by his son, Richard, and daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Lager. He was the grandfather of Amoret Wilkens, Brian Lager, Eric Andrew Lager, Elizabeth Winters and Meredith Pye and the great-grandfather of 10.
Grace and Marion Wrobel and their family also became close to the Lager family and had been part of their lives since 2011.
Lager’s career took him into the business world. After working with his father and at Voltz Brothers Trucking Company, he helped found Indiana-Michigan Corp., an equipment-leasing company. He eventually became its president and CEO following his father’s death.
The company closed in 1998 after nearly four decades in business.
Outside of work and community service, Lager was an avid pilot. He began flying lessons in 1960 in a J3 Piper Cub and received his pilot’s license in 1962. He eventually logged more than 10,000 flight hours and earned FAA certificates for both visual flight rules and instrument flight rules.
He flew Beechcraft Bonanzas for decades and was a member of the American Bonanza Society beginning in 1971. The organization recognized him for attending 50 consecutive conventions, often flying to the host city himself.
He also regularly attended EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Lager and Marilyn flew to their homes in Colorado and Florida and traveled by plane for business and family trips.
He also enjoyed dogs, particularly Cocker Spaniels and German Shepherds, and cared for horses when he was younger. He supported the Cub Scouts and followed his sons’ Soap Box Derby races and go-kart activities.
At home, he spent time building model train layouts.
Lager’s life in Palos Park began when he was a teenager and continued until his death. During that time, he served as mayor, raised his family, maintained his home and property, supported the local community and became part of the village’s history.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at Palos Community Church in Palos Park under the direction of Pastor Steve Sherrill. Entombment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip at a later date.
