Richard C. Jaeger

He was born on September 13th, 1944, to Charles Jaeger & Julia Jaeger (nee Boyko) in Astoria Queens, New York. On January 24th, 1970, he married the love of his life, Bettejane Dorothy Daggett, and they eventually settled in Sparta, NJ, where they raised their three daughters, Janine, Dawn, & Mary-Elizabeth.

Richard was a jack of all trades, he could do & fix anything. He started off his vocational life working with AT&T and moved on to work as an insurance and real estate agent. He then started his journey as a longshoreman with the ILA, Local 1804-1 in the 1970s. In 1992, Richard and his family relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma. While living there, Richard & Bettejane graduated from the Victory Bible Institute with their degrees in ministry. After receiving his Victory Bible Institute diploma, Richard served in many different areas of ministry with their church and abroad as he undertook a mission trip to Africa. Richard & Bettejane spent time living in North Carolina & New Jersey to be close to their daughters and grandchildren.

Richard was predeceased by his loving wife, Bettejane (Daggett) Jaeger, in April of 2020. He was also predeceased by his parents, Charles & Julia Jaeger, and his siblings, Charles Jaeger and Maryann Updyke. He is survived by his three daughters, Janine Jaeger Dowler (Paul), Dawn Jaeger Guerrini (Darren) and Mary Elizabeth Jaeger (Todd Milliken); two grandsons, Ryan and Austin; six granddaughters, Justine, Devyn, Leah, Summer, Audrey, and Noelle, along with nieces & nephews and extended family & friends that he loved deeply.

Richard was a family man who put God first in all things. These are a few of the activities Richard loved the most: Singing and dancing with his wife, daughters, and grandchildren; utilizing his creativity with handyman projects around the house, woodwork, engineering, and art; spending time walking in nature; having a good laugh with anyone and everyone around; telling stories of his family, childhood, and God; praising his Lord and savior, Jesus Christ & sharing the Gospel; and making joyful memories with those he loved.

Richard was a leader and a rock for his family, always encouraging them in their faith and bringing endless positivity and unconditional love to every moment. He always had the perfect words to say in times of hardship and offered compassionate guidance in every situation. Richard was a fighter, worshiping God through the end. He never gave up. Richard will be dearly missed, but his enduring love, unwavering faith, and vibrant spirit continues to live on through his family and the countless hearts he has touched.

A memorial celebration of Richard & Bettejane will be held at Goble Funeral Home, Wednesday, March 20th from 3pm - 7pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11AM Thursday, March 21st at Our Lady of the Lake Church 294 S. Sparta Ave., Sparta, NJ.