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Robert Leo Dehner, 82, of Olney, died Saturday, November 12, 2005, at Burgin Manor in Olney.
Mr. Dehner was born May 9, 1923, in St. Louis, Mo, the son of Florenz and Hattie (Coleman) Dehner. He married Frances Davidson June 30, 1947. She survives.
He was a retired truck driver for Jones Trucking and Deimel Trucking and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
He was proud to have served his country in World War II as an infantryman. He served under Patton's 3rd Army as a part of the Blackhawk Division in the European and Pacific Theatres and was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism in combat.
Mr. Dehner is survived by his wife, of Olney; a son, Robert Leo Dehner Jr. and his wife, Debbie, of Clovis, Calif; a son, Michael John Dehner and his wife, Becky, of St. Peters, Mo.; a son, Thomas G. Dehner Sr. of Stendal, Ind.; a son, Richard Frank Dehner and his wife, Jana, of Olney; a daughter, Susan Camille Corbin and her husband, Jay, of Twentynine Palms, Calif.; a son, William David Dehner and his wife, Frances, of Olney; a daughter, Dianne Michelle Brumley and her husband, Ed, of Lawrenceville; a son, Charles Andrew Dehner and his wife, Karla, of Newburg, Ind.; a brother, William "Bill" Dehner and his wife, Doris, of Monroe, Mich.; 20 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
His parents; one daughter, Kathleen Odelia; one brother, Joe; and two infant brothers preceded him in death.
Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)
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Robert L. Dehner (1943)
Olney Township High School
I joined the East Richland High School Alumni online a few years back in anticipation of getting reacquainted with old classmates from high school. While I was getting familiar with the layout of the ERHS Alumni site, I found a category for all veterans that attended OTHS/ERHS. I e-mailed a staff member (Nancy O'Connell) that helps veterans members with that category and what I need to see if Dad qualified to be added to the Wall of Appreciation for veterans on the site. I was thrilled when I found out that he was eligible.
I wanted to do an “ in memory of ” our dad, Robert L. Dehner Sr. on the Wall of Appreciation for his service to our country. Dad was one of the many that served his country during WW-2 from the Olney area. He had attended Olney Township High School his freshman year. Dad left school and joined the Conservation Corp. to help his family to survive the difficult times during our country’s depression era. Dad then entered the Army at the age of nineteen; he was attached to 86th Blackhawk Division, 341 Infantry serving under General Patton.
He earned ten ribbons/awards-one being the Bronze Star, and he was very proud of his service in the Army. While growing up, dad did not talk much about his experiences in the war except on occasions with his service buddies. Dad life experiences of war affected him for the rest of his life like so many of our members of the armed forces that have seen combat. He was a member of the American Legion Post #30 and VFW of Olney. Over the years mom and dad attended his Army reunions to meet up with his old buddies.
In checking out some online yearbooks sites, I found dad in the 1940 Olnean where he was with his freshman class, "green hands" a beginning level to the FFA program and JV football team. I was unaware of the existence of the photos or the yearbook until then. Dad had gotten an honorary degree from ERHS with the Class of 2002. He had sent me a copy of the Olney Daily mail showing his graduation ceremony. I am proud of dad for his accomplishments in life and his military service. I am thankful for all the fellow servicemembers (men and women) that served our great country. So we as citizens have the privilege of freedom and democracy in this great country.
Dad and Mom had instilled in us our faith in God, the difference between right and wrong, to appreciate the simple things in life, that you worked hard to get ahead in life and if it was worth doing it was worth doing it right. I appreciate very much the sacrifices that our parents made for us. Dad had left us on Nov.12, 2005. I think and miss him often and in hind site wish I had gotten to know more about my dad life experiences he had. He was a good man my Dad R.I.P.
Note: I would like to thank my wife Debbie for her guidance and understanding of how vital this was to me and my brother Bill for the pictures of dad and our family.
Robert Dehner Jr.
"Class of 1967"