Robert “Bob” Marion Rishel, passed away Jan. 7, 2022 in Plainfield, Ill., at the age of 88.
Robert was born on Aug. 20, 1933 in Iron Mountain, Mich., to Marion Ivan and Anna Regina (nee Peterson) Rishel. He grew up in Milwaukee with six brothers and sisters.
In 1952 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and proudly served this country for more t han 22 years. Most of his naval service was in the submarine force as a crewmember of the USS Croaker (SS 246), USS Atule (SS403), USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN 602), USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN 600) and then assigned to the commissioning crew of USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN 640).
In 1966 he was commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer assigned to the USS Simon Lake (AS 33) in Holy Loch Scotland. The remainder of his service was supporting US submarines operations and maintenance in Portsmouth, N.H., and Groton, Conn.
After retiring in 1974 from the Navy, he moved the family to East Troy, where he joined the Falk Corporation of Milwaukee as a Field Technical Service Representative.
While in East Troy, Robert was an active member of the Masonic Lodge and the UCC Congregational Church. Retiring from Falk, Robert and Konny moved to Bella Vista, Ark., where he was an active member of the VFW becoming the VFW Post Commander. He was also a founding member of the local SubVets organization – USS Snook Base.
Robert was instrumental in the creation of the Bella Vista Wall of Honor for veterans. He served his community as a Justice of the Peace and drove many veterans to the VA in Little Rock. He was an active member of the Bella Vista Presbyterian Church. He participated in the local theater as a member of the cast of many local productions. He was a man of faith, a loving husband and father, who cared deeply for his country, family and friends.
Robert is survived by his wife Konny Rae (nee Tozier); children Robert Ivan (Patricia), Cindy Stockhus, Charles (Nancy), and James; grandchildren Zachary, Mark, Tyler, Christopher, Matt and Sarah; four great-grandchildren; and his brothers Charles and Russell.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 14 from 11 a.m. until the 1:00 p.m. followed by a service at Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave. in Waukesha. Graveside services with military honors will follow at Highland Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to either the VFW or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, Crematory and Preplanning Service is honored to serve the family. For further information, please call the funeral home at 262-547-4035 or visit our website at www.randledable.com for directions or to leave the family an online tribute message.
