Robert Edward Rehm

Robert Edward Rehm, beloved father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, passed away on July 10, 2015 in Monterey, California. Artistically gifted, he was a natural musician, ardent poet and extraordinary vegetarian cook. He was kind and compassionate and will be deeply missed.

The sixth of nine children born to Henry and Joan Rehm of Libertyville, Illinois, Bob was one of “the little kids” - Billy, Joanie, Betsy and Bobby - not to be confused with “the big kids”- Susie, Louise, Dave, John and Emily. He still wonders which of the big kids swiped his baseball card collection. After graduating from Warren High School and Carroll College, Bob headed to Los Angeles with his Gibson guitar and dreams of making it big in the music business. He eventually traded sweltering Southern California for the foggy Monterey peninsula and founded Bob Rehm Vocational Services of Salinas, California, holding himself to the highest standards in providing vocational counseling to thousands of injured workers for more than 30 years. Still, his passion for great music never waned; countless evenings were spent with his guitars or keyboard in his recording studio.

Bob loved the Beatles, a good Porcini mushroom, Moby Dick, and had his heart broken many times by the Chicago Cubs. He treasured backpacking California’s High Sierras and delighted in the deer and wild turkeys that strolled his back yard.

A large family and many friends nourished him, but above all, Bob was eternally devoted to his son Benjamin. Bob’s love and passion will be with Ben, as he begins his own career in the arts and throughout his life. The family is extremely grateful to Ben, his mother Dawn, and many others for their support throughout Bob’s final illness.

A Celebration of Bob’s Life was held on August 1, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville. A local Celebration will be on Thursday, August 20 at the Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula in Carmel from 3:00 - 5:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ventana Wilderness Alliance are welcomed.