Robert E. Schaer, 71, the president of two suburban funeral homes, died Thursday in Holy Family Hospital, Des Plaines. Mr. Schaer, who lived in Palatine, joined Oehler Funeral Home of Des Plaines and Lauterburg & Oehler Funeral Home of Arlington Heights in 1940. He was a past president of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association. He served in the Army in Europe during World War II and received a Purple Heart. Mr. Schaer is survived by his wife, Corinne A. Sullivan Schaer; a daughter, Jane Ipsen; a stepdaughter, Colleen Cannon; a stepson, Steven Sullivan; and three grandchildren. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday in Oehler Funeral Home, 555 Lee St., Des Plaines. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in United Church of Christ , 1492 Henry Ave., Des Plaines.
