Jacob Estes Replogle, 88, died Sept. 16 at his residence in Vero Beach. He was born and grew up in Winnetka, Ill., where he graduated from New Trier High School in 1938.
He attended DePauw University and Northwestern University graduating with a degree in business administration. He served in World War II as an Officer in the US Navy in the Supply Corps managing Officer’s mess in New London, Conn., and Biloxi, Miss.
In 1948, following his marriage to Mary Ellen Wilson and a honeymoon at Driftwood Inn, he stayed in Vero Beach and opened a hamburger stand, The Huddle, on the corner of 14th Avenue and 19th Place.
The following year, thinking he needed more restaurant experience, he returned to Chicago and took a job with Marshall Field & Co in its restaurant division. For the next three years he managed Fields restaurant at Chicago’s Midway Airport. In 1953, he moved to Milwaukee, Wis., where he became food manager for Marquette University, a position he held for 14 years. During that period he also bought his first restaurant, Jake’s, located in the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa, Wis. He subsequently purchased a second restaurant in Brookfield, Wis.
In 1965, he moved back to Vero Beach and purchased the lease to operate the Ocean Grill. During his management the Grill received multiple Golden Spoon awards from FLORIDA TREND magazine, naming the Grill one of the 20 best restaurants in Florida. Brookfield was also cited in the Milwaukee Journal’s section for fine dining. Mr. Replogle continued to manage his businesses until he retired in 1999.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be sent to Abilities Resource Center (ARC), 1375 16th Ave., Vero Beach, FL 32960 in memory of Jacob Estes Replogle.
Survivors include his sons, Charles and John, of Vero Beach, Jacob, of Wauwatosa, Wis., and Matthew, of Chicago, Ill.; and his daughters Anne Mugler, of Arlington , Va., Connie Hamm, of Brooklyn, N.Y., Lee Reid, of Ocala, and Rachel Replogle, of Sebastian; and eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Sept. 19 at noon with his funeral following at 1 p.m. at Strunk Funeral Home, 916 17th St., Vero Beach, (772) 562-2325.Read related article: Long-time Ocean Grill Owner Jake Replogle of Vero Beach dies at 88
