Robert James Wetherall

Robert James Wetherall April 13, 1928 - May 21, 2014 Resident of Concord, CA Bob passed from us quietly at home on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 after a short illness. He blessed many lives with his huge heart, gift of gab and incredible sense of fun and adventure. Bob was the third of six children to Thomas and Helen Wetherall of Chicago, Ill. He graduated from Austin High School in Chicago, and attended the Illinois Institute of Technology, at which time he met his beautiful wife of nearly 60 years, Lee Anne English. He was a nationally known expert in industrial safety, and his career at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company spanned some 40 years. A child of the Depression, he bore the strength of character, as well as the frugal and practical nature, of many of our Greatest Generation. He could fix anything, and did, from complex machinery to the occasional skinned knee or broken heart of any of his 5 children and 4 grandchildren. He enlisted in the US Army, earning the Expert Marksmanship Badge with the M1 Rifle, and was stationed in Japan, where he received both the World War II Victory and the Occupation of Japan medals. He was Honorably Discharged in 1948. Bob had a phenomenal love of learning, and was a life-long reader, especially of current events, politics and history. He enjoyed art, becoming an accomplished painter in oils and watercolor, and loved traveling with the family. Our many vacations to the family-owned log cabin at Escanaba, MI taught us much about nature, and how natures creatures also enjoyed living in our log cabin! He motivated our family trips to Lake Berryessa, the Reno Air Races and annual family ski outings to North Shore Lake Tahoe, where he skied thru his 83rd year! After retirement, he and Lee Anne travelled the world, from the Arctic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Bob was loving father to Cathy (Jeff), Bobby, Tommy (Donna), Johnny and Kenny, and loving grandfather to Paul Melter, Victoria Melter, Jake Wetherall and Derek Wetherall. He is survived by his brothers Ron and Dan Wetherall, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his son John and wife Lee Anne. The viewing will be at Oak Park Hills Chapel 3111 North Main Street P.O. Box 4336, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 on Friday, June 6, 2014 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. A memorial service will be held also at Oak Park Hills Chapel on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 10:30 am. Donations may be made to Hospice of the East Bay http://www.hospiceeastbay.org/donate or to a favorite charity. Visitation Friday, June 6, 2014 06:00 pm-08:00 pm OAK PARK HILLS CHAPEL 3111 N. MAIN ST. Walnut Creek CA 94597 Memorial Service Saturday, June 7, 2014 10:30 am OAK PARK HILLS CHAPEL 3111 N. MAIN ST. Walnut Creek CA 94597