Abbot, Saint Procopius Abbey, Lisle, Illinois (1894-1924)

John Nepomucene Jaeger was born in Bohemia and immigrated to the United States of America with his family in 1853. He earned his first living as a violinist with the New York Italian Orchestra, with whom he toured the United States.

At the age of 21 he came to Saint Vincent, Latrobe. Ordained a priest in 1875, he served as a missionary to the Pennsylvania coal mines until he was sent in 1885 to found a monastery in Chicago. The Saint Procopius Monastery became an independent priory in 1888 and Prior Jaeger was consecrated as the first abbot in 1894.

Abbot Jaeger had the monastery moved from Chicago to Lisle and founded Saint Procopius College. In 1919 he handed over the management of the abbey to coadjutor Valentine Kohlbeck and he died in 1924. His grave is in the monastery cemetery.