Obituary for Robert M. Whalen
Robert M. Whalen, 83, of Greendale died at Frontida Clifden Court Assisted Living on Sunday, March 19, 2023.
Bob was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 30, 1939, to the late Thomas Whalen and Vernita (Hesseling) Whalen (Kies). He was the second of four children. The family resided in Milwaukee and later West Allis. Bob and his family lost their father when he was 13 years old and just starting at Marquette University High School. Upon graduating, Bob attended a year of school at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and subsequently enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving for four years.
Bob married Carol (Flagge) Gies at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Milwaukee, on August 3, 1968. He welcomed and loved Carol’s daughter, Jeanne Gies. Bob and Carol settled in Greenfield, where their sons Jamie and Tom were born. Carol died in 1987.
With his children grown and gone, Bob met Gloria Nehls of Greendale. They were married at St. John the Evangelist Church, Greenfield on June 21, 1996. Bob and Gloria resided in Greendale where they enjoyed their retirement together. They loved to spend time traveling, visiting Bob’s children and their grandchildren, and enjoying the sunsets at their vacation home in Door County, Wisconsin.
Bob retired from M&I Bank as a maintenance engineer, and could fix, repair, or install just about anything, lending a hand to his family on many occasions. He was known for his dry sense of humor, his avid love of history and of cars, particularly for his ‘41 Plymouth and a Cadillac he owned later in life.
Bob is survived by his wife of 26 years, Gloria; his children Jeanne Gies (Michael Rorby), New York, NY; Jamie (Susan) Whalen, Green Bay; Tom (Patty) Whalen, Rochester, MN; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Sam (Lee Ann) Whalen and son Liam; Gabriel Whalen and sons Brenton and Jaxyn; and Rafe Whalen.
Bob is further survived by his sisters Rosemary Whalen, Milwaukee, and Rita O’Gorman, Milwaukee; brother-in-law Don Pedek (Mo Foley), Waukesha; sister-in-law Ellen VanRoosenbeek, Milwaukee; and Bob and Karen Nehls, Muskego. Bob leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his first wife, Carol; her parents Raymond and Lucille Flagge; stepfather Tony Kies; brother-in-law Donald VanRoosenbeek; his brother and sister-in-law, Larry (Lorraine) Whalen, sister Grace Pedek, and brother-in-law Mike O’Gorman.
Visitation will be held at St. Clare Catholic Church, 7616 Fritz St., Wind Lake, WI, from 9:00 to 11:00 AM on Friday, March 31, 2023. The Mass of Christian Burial will directly follow the visitation, at 11:00 AM with Fr. Ed Tlucek, OFM officiating. Burial will be at Holy Trinity Cemetery, Milwaukee.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org or to St. Clare Catholic Church, Wind Lake.
The family would like to thank the staff of St. Croix Hospice and Frontida Clifden Court Assisted Living for their compassionate care for Bob.
Bob was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 30, 1939, to the late Thomas Whalen and Vernita (Hesseling) Whalen (Kies). He was the second of four children. The family resided in Milwaukee and later West Allis. Bob and his family lost their father when he was 13 years old and just starting at Marquette University High School. Upon graduating, Bob attended a year of school at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and subsequently enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving for four years.
Bob married Carol (Flagge) Gies at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Milwaukee, on August 3, 1968. He welcomed and loved Carol’s daughter, Jeanne Gies. Bob and Carol settled in Greenfield, where their sons Jamie and Tom were born. Carol died in 1987.
With his children grown and gone, Bob met Gloria Nehls of Greendale. They were married at St. John the Evangelist Church, Greenfield on June 21, 1996. Bob and Gloria resided in Greendale where they enjoyed their retirement together. They loved to spend time traveling, visiting Bob’s children and their grandchildren, and enjoying the sunsets at their vacation home in Door County, Wisconsin.
Bob retired from M&I Bank as a maintenance engineer, and could fix, repair, or install just about anything, lending a hand to his family on many occasions. He was known for his dry sense of humor, his avid love of history and of cars, particularly for his ‘41 Plymouth and a Cadillac he owned later in life.
Bob is survived by his wife of 26 years, Gloria; his children Jeanne Gies (Michael Rorby), New York, NY; Jamie (Susan) Whalen, Green Bay; Tom (Patty) Whalen, Rochester, MN; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Sam (Lee Ann) Whalen and son Liam; Gabriel Whalen and sons Brenton and Jaxyn; and Rafe Whalen.
Bob is further survived by his sisters Rosemary Whalen, Milwaukee, and Rita O’Gorman, Milwaukee; brother-in-law Don Pedek (Mo Foley), Waukesha; sister-in-law Ellen VanRoosenbeek, Milwaukee; and Bob and Karen Nehls, Muskego. Bob leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his first wife, Carol; her parents Raymond and Lucille Flagge; stepfather Tony Kies; brother-in-law Donald VanRoosenbeek; his brother and sister-in-law, Larry (Lorraine) Whalen, sister Grace Pedek, and brother-in-law Mike O’Gorman.
Visitation will be held at St. Clare Catholic Church, 7616 Fritz St., Wind Lake, WI, from 9:00 to 11:00 AM on Friday, March 31, 2023. The Mass of Christian Burial will directly follow the visitation, at 11:00 AM with Fr. Ed Tlucek, OFM officiating. Burial will be at Holy Trinity Cemetery, Milwaukee.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org or to St. Clare Catholic Church, Wind Lake.
The family would like to thank the staff of St. Croix Hospice and Frontida Clifden Court Assisted Living for their compassionate care for Bob.