Robert Francis Dehli

Visitation- Thursday, July 29, 2021 at the FUNERAL HOME (Heritage Oak Creek) from 3pm-5pm.

Service-Thursday, July 29, 2021 at the FUNERAL HOME (Heritage Oak Creek) at 5pm.

Robert Francis Dehli

June 23, 1950-July 16, 2021

Age 71

Robert was born in Milwaukee WI, the seventh of eight children belonging to Svend and Marion (Staus) Dehli.  He attended St. Aloysius School and Nathan Hale High School.

As a young man he held employment with Nelson Pattern, American Motors and then started employment with We Energies in 1979 as an Operator, then Power Plant electrician at Oak Creek Power Plant, then Construction electrician and Substation Maintenance electrician.  He retired as an OCB Transformer Bushing tester in July of 2016 after 37 years of service. He was a proud union member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2150. It was at We Energies that he met Rosemary and they married in 1983.

His interests were many and varied.  He enjoyed martial arts and achieved a 3^rd degree black belt in Kenpo karate.  He had an interest in motorcycles since before he could drive. Whether rebuilding them himself from a “basket case”  or having them customized to do wheelies in the alley, to the pride of owning a new Goldwing touring bike or most recently, his Harley Road King, Bob enjoyed the freedom of riding most of his life.

He also loved fast cars.  Together with his nephews Curt and Troy, he built his 1970 Chevelle, and attended some local road rallies. He also enjoyed ownership of a Corvette and several Camaros.

He liked bowling in the Wally Klaak Father/Son league with his son Mike and friend Bob Jastroch and son John.  Later, he bowled the same Sunday morning league with friend Nick Hyke and Nicks’ grandsons.  He also enjoyed golfing with his work buddies and horseback riding with his wife and daughter.

Woodworking was also a hobby, and a necessity. Bob and wife Rose bought a house in Oak Creek, and with his father Svend and his brother John built the custom oak cabinetry in their home in Oak Creek. Always willing to lend a hand, he helped with family and friend’s remodeling jobs, home building, roofing, and whatever needed fixing. Friends Mike Stawicki and Nick Hyke shared in the work of bigger projects at each other’s homes while their wives watched kids and made sure everyone had a great meal.

Above all, he was a family man, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.  He was always willing to help his children, guiding and supporting through their tough times, and reveling in their successes, forgiving, and always proud of them.  Grandchildren and great grandchildren were favorites, and his inner boy would appear sometimes to instigate mischief in ways that they hadn’t yet imagined. He was an unexpected snowball thrown, the first squirt gun shot and an expert  cannon baller.  From the first time kids were brave enough to climb up the pool slide and slip down, they knew he was always there to catch them. He was the big guy gently sitting them in the saddle on his horse Dusty, then leading them slowly and carefully to be sure they weren’t afraid.

Robert is preceded in death by his parents, father in law Gordon Kehler, infant brother Raymond, brothers Allan (Carole), Bruce (JoAnn), and granddaughter Erial Jade Esterl.   He is survived by his wife Rosemary, mother in law Dolores Kehler, children Erica (Dewey) Styles, Michael (Amanda) and Alyssa.  Also survived by brothers and sisters, Glenn (Gloria), John, Karen (Gary) Chmielewski and Tom (Barb). He will also be missed by grandchildren, great grandchildren, family and friends.

Funeral Service:  Thursday July 29^th 2021   Visitation 3-5 p.m. Service to follow.

Heritage Funeral Home 9200 S. 27^th Street Oak Creek, WI 5315