Kathleen "Kathy" Eager

Kathleen “Kathy” Eager

 October 20, 1948 – December 2, 2025

Kathleen “Kathy” Eager, 77, of Earlville, Illinois, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2025, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Kathy was born on October 20, 1948, to Roger and Josephine Stremlau. After the passing of her mother, Josephine, when Kathy was 8 years old, she was raised by her father and stepmother, Mary Stremlau.

Kathy grew up in Peterstown, Illinois, and attended Peterstown Grade School, later moving to Earlville where she attended Earlville Junior High and Earlville High School. She continued her education at Illinois Valley Community College and Northern Illinois University, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Economics. She later completed her Master’s Degree in Economics from NIU.

Kathy began her teaching career part-time at Illinois Valley Community College and the Sheridan Correctional Facility before joining Earlville Unit District 9, where she taught for 34 years. She was an amazing math teacher who impacted the lives of countless students who passed through her classroom. Kathy had an uncanny talent for helping students truly understand math through her no-nonsense approach, her patience, and her genuine love for teaching. Many of her former students remember her as tough but fair; a teacher who expected their best and helped them discover their own confidence and potential.

On April 23, 1966, Kathy married her high school sweetheart, Harry Eager, and together they shared 59 wonderful years of marriage in Earlville. Their love and partnership were the cornerstone of their family. Kathy and Harry raised two sons, John and Scott, and later opened their hearts and home to Richard Jones, who became a treasured part of their family. Together, Harry and Kathy built their dream home on the Eager family farm; a place filled with love, laughter, and the memories of countless family gatherings, holidays, and summer nights on the porch.

In her early years, Kathy worked at The Manor Steakhouse, where she was known for her warm smile and strong work ethic. She remained active in her community as a member of the Earlville School Foundation and the Earlville Library Board.

Kathy was a woman full of life, energy, and love. She adored loud music, especially when dancing in her kitchen with her grandchildren. She loved baking Christmas cookies with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and she was an avid sewer and quilter. Known for being an amazing cook, family and friends often said no one ever had a bad meal from Kathy’s kitchen. She enjoyed attending plays and musicals, and most of all, she loved her family fiercely.

She is survived by her beloved husband Harry, her sons John (Becky) and Scott (Kristi), and Richard (Joyclyn) Jones; her nine grandchildren: Elissa (Jake) Scharff, Grace (Justin) Slagle, Clint Eager, Abby (Keith) McAlpine, Hannah (Stephen) Kupferschmid, Maddie Eager (Colton Saylor), Ellie Eager (Owen Wixom), Josie Eager, and Rena (Nolan) Baumbach; and her eight great-grandchildren: Elaina and Addy Scharff; Irelynn, Walker, and Bennett McAlpine; Kolly and Blake Kupferschmid; and Maisie Wixom.

Kathy is also survived by her siblings: Sister Anne Stremlau of Milwaukee, Bill (Mary Ann) Stremlau of Ottawa, Tom (Mary Joy) Stremlau of Brookfield, Ohio, Nancy Kellam of Virginia, IL and Julie (Duane) Krzyzek of Earlville; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother Josephine Stremlau, father Roger Stremlau, stepmother Mary Stremlau, sisters and brothers-in-law Mary Ellen and Bob Schmitz, Jean and Bonnie Anderson, Paula and Ed Doughty, and brothers-in-law Neal Kellam and Jim Mahoney.

Pallbearers will be her cherished grandchildren: Elissa Scharff, Grace Slagle, Clint Eager, Abby McAlpine, Hannah Kupferschmid, Maddie Eager, Ellie Eager, Josie Eager, and Rena Baumbach.

Funeral services will be held at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk on December 14, 2025 at 1:00PM, with burial to follow at Precinct Cemetery in Earlville. Visitation will be prior to the funeral services from 10:00 - 1:00 at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Earlville School Foundation, or Earlville Library in Kathy’s honor.

Kathy will be remembered for her boundless love, her laughter, her generosity, and her unwavering devotion to her family, students, and community. Her warmth and wisdom will live on in all who were blessed to know her.

For more information or to sign the online guestbook go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com

Turner-Eighner Funeral Home

13160 W. Rt 34 ~ P.O. Box 404

Somonauk, IL 60552

85-498-2363