Paul Robert "Bob" Rees

OREGON ~ Paul Robert “Bob” Rees, age 87, died on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at Serenity Hospice & Home of Oregon, IL.  Bob was born July 28th 1936 in Chicago where his father, a Mt. Morris native had gone for employment. He was the son of Paul Parker Rees and Francis Bartow Rees and the family moved to Oregon in 1949.

Bob graduated Oregon High School in 1954 and attended Bradley University for a year before attending and graduating from Greer Automotive Training in Chicago.

Bob worked as a mechanic for local Oregon Car Dealers and then sold hand tool for Mac Tools, where he became District Manager for North Western Illinois. Bob spent his last 12 years of employment as an Oregon Rural Mail Carrier.

Bob spent two and a half years in the United States Army from 1959 to 1962 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.  He was a specialist E4 and was Clerk of the Turret Branch training facility. 

After retirement, Bob attended junior college for computer training and kept busy for 10 years initiating restoration of the Oregon Depot. Bob has a fascination with railroading from a very young age and read countless books on railroad history. Bob was also a city commissioner  for nine years and as a public property commissioner, was responsible for the wastewater plant upgrade and many other innovative improvements.

Bob was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Oregon Masonic Lodge 420. He was also a member of the American Legion, Freeport Consistory and Tabla Temple of Rockford.

Bob’s interests were many faceted and included auto-racing, rail-fans, Bears football, reading history and collecting. Always a dog lover, he spent every hour with his border collies Macbeth and then Indy.

Bob is predeceased in death by his wife Gail, first wife Donna and second wife Sandy. Parents, sisters Dorothy Henke and Pat Dahlin.

Bob is survived by his sons Bob Rees and Spencer (Denise) Rees of Delavan WI; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. There will be no services, and Bob will be cremated and interned in the Rees plot at Oakwood Cemetery, Mt Morris.