Louis Joseph Bahr, 86 of Robinson, IL, died at 1:11 a.m. Monday, May 31, 2004 at his home. He was born April 13, 1918 in Shoals, IN, the son of Edward Louis Bahr and Estella Mary Herbillon Bahr.
Joe was retired as Vice President of the Robert Hancock Ford Dealership in Robinson, after a successful business career. He started at the age of 17 as manager of a small grocery store for Mrs. Poland in Robinson. He then was foreman of the ice cream department for L. S. Heath & Sons for many years.
He was a veteran of WWII serving in the U. S. Navy in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters. He was a volunteer fireman for many years, as well as a Special Robinson city policeman; a working member of the local American Red Cross and the Civil Defense for disaster, rescue, fire and police details. With Troy Pulliam, he was one of two men in Robinson who could operate the portable Iron Lung during the polio epidemic, which was donated by the local Moose club. He served as an officer in the American Legion 69er's on over 100 military funerals, mostly for the returned war dead. He was on of the original committee in the American Legion that organized what is known today as the "4th of July Celebration", first discussed by local officials in his home. He is a current member of the Robinson V. F. W. Post #4549 and the Robinson American Legion Post #69.
He worked and traveled with the local men's baseball team, a forerunner of the Little League, Minor League, Babe Ruth League, and Connie Mack League, as umpire and league President.
He married Rosemary Love on August 31, 1940 and she survives. He is also survived by 3 daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and Darrold McCormick, Crawfordsville, IN; Dennie Jean and Thomas Deedrick, Crawfordsville, IN; Jean-Marie and Steven Phillips, Lindenhurst, IL; 5 grandchildren and their spouses, Darin and Adriana McCormick, Glastonbury, CT, Darcy and Thomas Weiler, Crawfordsville, IN, Thomas and Penny Deedrick, Crawfordsville, IN, Tina and Robert Scrimpsher, Vandalia, IL, and Cameron Phillips, Lindenhurst, IL; 8 great grandchildren, Alexandra and Samantha McCormick, Calli and Paige Deedrick, Ashlie Deedrick, Katarina, Rebecca, and Colton Scrimpsher; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, David Lee Bahr on June 7, 1987; his brother, Edward Andrew Bahr; and his sister Catherine Gertrude Thombleson.
Graveside funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 3rd at the Tohill Cemetery, rual Flat Rock. Reverends Burl Rich and Tim Love are in charge of Services. There will be no visitation. Graveside military services will be conducted by the combined units of the Robinson V. F. W. Post #4549, the Robinson American Legion Post #69, the Flat Rock American Legion Post #132, and the Amvets Post #33. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson is in charge of arrangements.