Kenneth Bernard Robl's Obituary
Kenneth Bernard Robl, died on December 3, 2019 after a courageous battle with cancer. Ken was born on August 20, 1927 at home in Oshkosh, WI, a son of the late Wenzel and Viola (Poeschl) Robl. He was a proud life long member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church (St. Jude Parish), where he attended elementary school and then went on to attend South Park for 9th grade and then Oshkosh High School. His father passed on during the Great Depression at which point the family bonded together under their Mother's guidance. He and his mother raised produce and fruit. The family used or sold all their bounty to feed and supplement the family income. At the Pupeter Brothers Truck Farm he worked “pulling” bunches of radishes for 10 cents an hour. Those earnings were given to his mother. Eventually he worked his way up to foreman of the farm and he learned to drive tractor there which put him in line for the next phase of his career, working for the City of Oshkosh Street Department. This began 80 years of public service between the City of Oshkosh and Winnebago County. Driving tractor in the summer and sanders and snowplows in the winter he put his all into any task he undertook.
In 1959 he became Superintendent of Streets in the City of Oshkosh, retiring from this roll in 1989. He was elected to the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors in 1980. Ken held this position until his passing, a total of forty years. He also served on various committees including Highway and Solid Waste. In 2017 Winnebago County named a park in his honor. The Ken Robl Conservation Park located on Walter Street.
Ken greatly enjoyed sports, especially fast pitch softball and was a proud member of the Softball Hall of Fame. Among other teams, he pitched for “Mueller Shell” a very successful team in Oshkosh. He had a love of dart ball as well and played for many years in the Catholic Parish Leagues. A true south sider, Ken was still frogging in the river at 86.5 years of age! He was one with nature and throughout his life he never tired of traveling the highways and byways of Wisconsin in search of frogs, turtles, snails, crabs, and the list goes on. Being a life long gardener he was still “digging dirt” until age 90.
While he was a patient at Mercy Hospital he met his partner for life, student nurse, Mary Clare Vandehey of Kimberly. They worked together and built a firm foundation that proved to be a devoted and fruitful relationship for what became sixty-three love filled years together. Their faith in God and each other was an unstated priority in their lives. They were the proud parents of daughter, Sally Ann Robl-Buex. They were blessed with two grandsons and eight great-grandchildren. He was an Packer, Milwaukee Braves and Brewers fan. Ken and Mary attended many games together. One football game in 1967 stood out in his mind. (Mary and Sally watched at home) Ken and his brother, Rob and nephew Ted were in attendance at the Packers vs. Cowboys ICE BOWL GAME! Ken was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Travelers Protection Association, the Oshkosh Softball Commission, proud Sacred Heart Parish Council Member, as well as maintaining his duties on the Winnebago County Board.
Ken is survived by a daughter, Sally Ann and son-in-law, Don Bruex of Oshkosh. Ken and Mary were blessed with two grandsons, Daniel Kenneth and his wife, Christina, and their children, Silas and Bennett, and daughters, Alexandria Joy (Mitch), Mary Clare, Violet Grace, and their mother, Pamela Dobbins; grandson, Peter James and his wife, Holly Dobbins and their children, Peter John, Kendra Leigh and Peyton Elsie. He is also survived by Ruth Robl of New York and Arlene Robl of Oshkosh. He will be fondly remembered by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins from the Robl, Poeschl and Vandehey families. Ken was preceded in death by his loving wife Mary on July 13, 2012; and their parents, Wenzel and Viola “Ma” and Peter and Mary Vandehey; brothers, Harold, Robert (Elizabeth), Eugene (Isabell), and sister, Marie Robl Esslinger (Ralph); and by Herman (Ethel) Vandehey, Agnes (Len) Holzer, Lucille (Wally) Vosters, Florence (Bill) Gloudemans, Don (Martha and Myrtle) Vandehey, Glen (Bertha) Vandehey, Rose (Lee) Kroner, Nori (Ken) Styvenberg and Eunice (Ray) Sanderfoot.
A time of visitation will be held on Monday, December 9th from 4 pm until 7 pm in the Fiss & Bills-Poklasny Funeral Home, 865 S. Westhaven Drive. There will be a parish prayer service with Deacon Pat Gelhar at 7 pm. Visitation will continue on Tuesday at the church St. Jude Parish, (Sacred Heart Catholic Church), corner of Knapp Street and 6th Streets from 2 pm until the Celebration of Life Mass at 4 pm with Fr. Louis Golamari as celebrant. In lieu of flowers, a number of Memorial Funds will be established in Ken's name including the Ken Robl Conservation Park.
The family wishes that special thanks be extended to Ken's doctors and staff members at Ascension Medical especially Dr. Matthew Kraemer, Dr. Benjamin Heinzen and Dr. Steven Baughman. The Ascension Visiting Nurses and Ascension Hospice Team also have their endless thanks. The staff at Bethel Home will be remembered for the compassionate care of Ken in his final days. A warm hearted thank you also to the St. Jude Parish Staff, Care Ministry Group and parish volunteers, including Dave Putzer, Barb Richmond and Paula Macho. And finally words of wisdom from a very great man, my father Ken Robl: Sally always listen to what people have to say. Give them the opportunity to tell you how you can better their situation- try and do all you can to that end. If you can't realize a mutual understanding be honest and tell them that. Always part on a positive note whatever the circumstance. And from my mother, Mary: “If you can't say something nice about another person, don't say anything at all.” I am truly blessed to be your daughter. Sally.
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