MONROE - Monroe businessman H. Robert "Bob" Dearth died Friday, June 15. He was 79.
Dearth was born in rural Lafayette County Jan. 1, 1933 and moved to Monroe in 1943 with his widowed mother Nellie and sister Ann. He began working at Dearth Motors, begun by his brother Joe, on the day it opened in 1948 when he was 15 years old. He continued as general manager for the next 50 years, leaving only to serve in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955.
Bob Dearth met his wife Shirley while in boot camp, prior to shipping off to Europe; they were married in 1956.
Dearth's son Roger Dearth remembered his father as a man of humble beginnings, born to impoverished tenant farmers during the Depression, and as a man who valued service to his family, community and customers.
Bob Dearth was devoted to his four children, two sons-in-law and five grandchildren, "but his commitment to youth extended far beyond his own family," Roger Dearth wrote in an e-mail.
His father "felt a responsibility to make Monroe a place where youth could thrive, grow and enjoy life," Roger Dearth said, noting Bob Dearth was dedicated to Monroe High School athletics and was involved in service to youth through Knights of Columbus and the Jaycees.
He also supported Monroe's Christmas Stocking program for more than six decades. Rather than a traditional golden wedding anniversary celebration, Bob and Shirley Dearth marked their 50th anniversary by hosting a party for 350 needy children, which included entertainment, food and new winter coats for all. The Dearths were also featured on the cover of the 2009 United Way campaign brochure for exemplifying the "Live United" motto.
His father's "name was on thousands of cars but his impact was on an equal number of people," Roger Dearth said.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday, June 21 at St. Victor Catholic Church in, Monroe. A visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Shriner-Hager-Gohlke funeral home. A complete obituary is pending.
Dearth was born in rural Lafayette County Jan. 1, 1933 and moved to Monroe in 1943 with his widowed mother Nellie and sister Ann. He began working at Dearth Motors, begun by his brother Joe, on the day it opened in 1948 when he was 15 years old. He continued as general manager for the next 50 years, leaving only to serve in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955.
Bob Dearth met his wife Shirley while in boot camp, prior to shipping off to Europe; they were married in 1956.
Dearth's son Roger Dearth remembered his father as a man of humble beginnings, born to impoverished tenant farmers during the Depression, and as a man who valued service to his family, community and customers.
Bob Dearth was devoted to his four children, two sons-in-law and five grandchildren, "but his commitment to youth extended far beyond his own family," Roger Dearth wrote in an e-mail.
His father "felt a responsibility to make Monroe a place where youth could thrive, grow and enjoy life," Roger Dearth said, noting Bob Dearth was dedicated to Monroe High School athletics and was involved in service to youth through Knights of Columbus and the Jaycees.
He also supported Monroe's Christmas Stocking program for more than six decades. Rather than a traditional golden wedding anniversary celebration, Bob and Shirley Dearth marked their 50th anniversary by hosting a party for 350 needy children, which included entertainment, food and new winter coats for all. The Dearths were also featured on the cover of the 2009 United Way campaign brochure for exemplifying the "Live United" motto.
His father's "name was on thousands of cars but his impact was on an equal number of people," Roger Dearth said.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday, June 21 at St. Victor Catholic Church in, Monroe. A visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Shriner-Hager-Gohlke funeral home. A complete obituary is pending.