Robert Behling aka “Papa Bob”, age 101 passed away peacefully at Hillside Manor, Beaver Dam Thursday, November 21st, 2024.

Dad was one of the most honorable men we have ever known. As a father, one could not have a better mentor. He taught respect, responsibility, ethics, the value of other human beings and how to love.  It is hard to imagine how many people’s lives he touched in his 101+ years.  His favorite hymn was “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.”

While growing up in Wauwatosa he developed a love for horses.  He would take a bus ride out to Joy Farm, a riding stable in the area, where he would ride horses and help in the barn until the bus came to take him home. He loved to spend time with his dad helping with his plumbing and heating business. Uncle Ray and his dad taught him to build just about anything either mechanical, electrical, or architectural.  He traveled all over the state with his parents, including attending a football game with the Great Don Hutson playing for the Green Bay Packers. 

Bob was into fitness which began early in his life.  He was on the swim team at Wauwatosa East HS and swam into his late 80’s.  He attended UW Madison and then joined the Navy and attended Great Lakes Naval Academy.  From there, he joined the crew of the USS McKee DD 575 for the duration of WW2 as an Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class. He had many other duties that demanded his attention while the ship was in combat.  The ship earned several awards and commendations and had picket duty as well as close in support of the troops on island invasions in the Pacific theatre along with shooting down several Kamakizi planes that threatened the fleet.  Dad said he joined the Navy so he could have a dry place to sleep and if it was not dry then it did not matter. 

In 1947 he married Jane Lee and the two of them established HyLee Farm in 1948.  They had two children, Jackie Lee and Robert Lee. HyLee Farm began raising registered Morgan Horses in Cambria.  The HyLee prefix on the horses they raised became known throughout the United States. He rode and trained many champions, and was a top handler showing horses in conformation. In 2022 HyLee Farm was inducted into the American Morgan Horse Association’s Breeders Hall of Fame.  It was a great honor for his daughter to share this award with him after HyLee Farm being active 75 years and is still continuing.

On June 8, 1973, Bob married Darline “Beady” Plath Leary. Together they made their home in Cambria.  

Accomplishments include; One of the greatest highlights of his life was on April 21, 2012 when he went on the Badger Honor Flight. He was a 75-year member of the Masonic Fraternity serving as Master of Cambria Lodge #152 several times. He designed the Cambria Clinic and the Lee home, along with other buildings in the area.  He was bus driver for the Cambria School District,  President of the WI Horseman’s Association, owned and operated Behling Electric, and was a rural Postal Mail Carrier for 18 years (retired on Sept. 30, 1994). He was active in community services, serving as past president of the Cambria Kiwanis.

Bob enjoyed many things including; spending time with his family, dining with friends at many supper clubs throughout the state, bowling, deer hunting on Madeline Island and pheasant hunting with his dog Gunner, golfing, fishing, trapshooting and traveling.  Most of all he enjoyed taking his grand-daughters on weekend getaways or just to spend the night.  

All his associations with people left strong memories with them and those who knew him, knew how special he was. 

He is survived by his children Robert L. Behling, Washoe Valley, NV, Jackie Sweeney, Mt. Horeb, Christine Leary (Jerry) Jones, Cambria; grand-children Jennifer (Jim) Evans, Cambria, Jaime (Mike) Schmuhl, Beaver Dam; great grand-children Michaela (Ethan) Westra, Cambria, Madelyn and Austin Evans, Cambria and Hayden Schmuhl, Beaver Dam; great-great grand-children Easton & Cashton Westra, Cambria.  Brother: James A. (Dorothee) Behling, New Berlin; nieces Jerri Lynn (Peter) Toutant, Suzie Praefke, West Bend, Maria (Christopher) Schultz, Fox Lake, Jeannie Goggins; nephews David (Dawn) Behling, Beaver Dam, Joel (Lisa) Behling, Rubicon, Jeff (Julie) Behling, Waukesha; and many other loving relatives. 

He was preceded in death by his father Armand A. Behling; mother Norma K. (nee Siegel) Behling; loving wife Darline “Beady” Behling; his first wife Jane Mary Lee; brother Gerald Behling; nephew Tom Behling; and niece Kathy Behling Thurber.

We would like to thank the staff at Hillside Manor for their care and compassion over the last few years. 

There will be a celebration of life on May 17, 2025. Time and location to be determined.