The Four Sons of Walter and Marie Petelle.

Robert Anton (1919-1991).

Robert Anton Petelle was second son of Walter Joseph Petelle and Marie Hansen Petelle. He was born on August 27, 1919 at his grandparents, Samuel and Christine Hansen’s, home at 2301 North Monticello Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. His parents, he and his brother, Walter, lived on the second floor. His brother, Edward was born at Grant Hospital while they lived on Monticello.

Samuel, Robert’s grandfather, ran a beer distribution business out of the Hansen’s garage. Walter worked with him for a while, but was beginning a career in automobile sales.

In 1925, Robert’s grandfather, Samuel Hansen, died.

In 1927, the family moved to 5544 Hutchinson Avenue. Grandmother Hansen moved with them. In 1920, Robert’s brother, Donald was born at Illinois Masonic Hospital.

In 1930, Christine Hansen died, at the Petelle home. Brother Ed remembers that they had to take down the Christmas tree and it was replaced by her casket. Samuel and Christine are both buried at Montrose Cemetery.

In 1932, the entire family joined Uncle Tony and his family and moved back to the Hansens family house on Monticello. The Depression had caused Walter J. to close his Hupmobile business and this living arrangement helped everyone.

In 1935, Bob’s grandmother, LuLu Petelle died. She was living with his aunt and uncle in LaPorte, Indiana at the time. She was also buried at Montrose Cemetery.

On May 29, 1935, Bob went to Bernice Press’s “sweet sixteen” birthday party. At the party, he met Bernice’s fourteen-year-old sister, Lorraine Olivia. The began to date several years later.

Robert (Bob) attended Kelvyn Park High School and later went to Lane Technical School. The family was still living on Monticello.

On Dec. 10, 1937, at 18 years of age, Bob and his brother, Wally, joined the Illinois National Guard and they served with the 202nd Coastal Artillery/Antiaircraft Unit, based at the National Guard Armory in Chicago. Bob qualified as an expert gunner in 1939.

Bob’s grandfather, Joseph Louis Petelle, died in 1940. He was buried next to LuLu at Montrose Cemetery.

National Guard duty in the summer of 1940 was at camp in northern Wisconsin. When the unit returned to Chicago they were told the unit was being activated because of the state of world unrest. Bob and the rest of the unit were then transferred to Ft. Bliss, Texas, where they received further training. He was promoted to Corporal on October 15, 1940, SO #23, Hq 202d CA (AA).

War, though, had not become a reality and Bob had to face the decision of going to Officer’s Candidate School or being discharged at the end of his normal enlistment. He opted for going home to Lorraine and was discharged from the guard to return to civilian life on Dec. 9, 1940. The unit was then transferred to San Francisco.

Bob’s family was now living at 5510 Pensacola. He went to work for the Chicago Screw Company where he worked as a screw machine setup man, setting up 24 machines.

On May 10, 1941, Robert Anton Petelle married Lorraine Olivia Press, at North Austin Lutheran Church, Mason and LeMoyne Avenues in Chicago. World War II broke out in December.

A daughter was born in 1942 at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital in Chicago. Bob and Lorraine lived at 5610 Wellington Street.

Bob enlisted in the United States Army and was sent to Camp Grant, Illinois, for training. On Sept. 3, 1943, his unit was put on a train headed south, destination unknown.

The train arrived in Jacksonville, Florida and they were moved to Camp Blanding near Starke. Because of Bob’s past military experience, he was made a temporary instructor.

Wanting to be near her husband, Lorraine took a train to Florida with their daughter. They returned to Chicago after only a few weeks because housing was difficult to find. They moved in with Bob’s parents at 1833 73rd Court in Elmwood Park.

In January of the next year, they returned to Florida with Bob’s mother, Marie, in a used Plymouth. Marie returned to Chicago by train.

Bob and Lorraine found a house on the outskirts of town. This is the house they remember as “Petelley’s Pig Farm.” Wild pigs roamed at will in the yard and under the house. Lorraine found another Army wife to become her housemate. That didn’t work out at all. The adventure in Starke did not last long, perhaps six weeks. They decided it was no place for a young wife and baby. Lorraine took the train home to Chicago.

In the fall of 1943, Bob got a 2 week pass to go home and see his family in Chicago. When he returned to Florida and Camp Blanding he found his unit, tents and all, was gone. They had been transferred out. Bob was given orders to Baltimore to a replacement depot where would act as a supply sergeant. Before long an order came through specifying that only those thirty years old and older could serve in that type of job. As a result, Bob was issued orders overseas as infantry replacement in Europe.

Learning of his transfer, Lorraine traveled by train to Baltimore to say “Goodbye.” On Sept. 18, 1944, Bob boarded the SS Moratania, sistership of the Lucitania, and sailed for Liverpool, England. The eight day trip ended Sept. 25th, on schedule.

He boarded another ship and with his unit landed on Omaha Beach 2 months after D-day. They crossed the beach and saw many white crosses put up as memorials to honor those who originally landed there. His reaction was probably much the same as all of the young soldiers who followed that first march into Europe.

For the duration of the war, Bob served as a supply sergeant. He returned to the United States in November of 1945 on the SS Smolsdek, and was then transferred to Camp Grant. He arrived back in Chicago on December 24th. Bob had been overseas for one year, three months, five days.

While in the Army, Bob received one service stripe, two overseas service bars, American Defense ribbon, American Campaign medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Ribbon, WWII Bronze battle stars, Good Conduct medal and WWII Victory medal. On December 27, 1945 Robert was Honorably Discharged from Company A, 228th Infantry Division, Training Battalion, as a sergeant.

Bob went to work at Stallworth Motors where his father had been working during the war. Bob and Lorraine were now living on Hoyne Avenue in south Chicago where another daughter was born in 1946.

They lived in Berwyn and LaGrange, Illinois until 1949. Bob left Stallworth Motors and moved to Delavan, Wisconsin. During the six months in Delavan, Bob operated a restaurant and ice cream parlor. Leon and Sadie Hansen Babcock, Bob’s uncle and aunt, lived in Delavan with their family.

In 1950, Bob returned to Chicago. He and his father, Walter, negotiated with Ford Motor Company to secure a Mercury franchise. They were successful. This was to be family business. It was Walter’s dream that all of his boys would work together.

The 1951 Mercurys were due out in just a few weeks. Walter J. found an empty garage and showroom in Oak Park and the entire family pitched in to get it ready to open. They hired their first employee, Chester Smith, as their parts department manager.

Ford Motor Company couldn’t get new cars to them in time for their planned opening. So, they borrowed a few from Ganey Lincoln Mercury and opened when they planned, in time for the new car showing.

Walter J., in the meantime, negotiated the purchase of a site 100’ x 112’ at West Grand Avenue near the Elmwood Park section of Chicago. A 10,000 square foot building was completed by the summer of 1951.

Walter J. was the Chairman of the Board of Petelle Motors. Bob was the President and General Manager. Wally was Vice President and Used Car Manager, and Donald was Office Manager/Bookkeeper and he doubled as a Salesman. Bob’s brother-in-law, Chester (Chet) Smith was the Parts Department Manager. The only son not working for Petelle Mercury was Edward. He had established a career Illinois Bell.

The family now lived on 72nd Court in Elmwood Park, Illinois. Their girls were in elementary school at Elm School and the country was focusing on the election campaign between Eisenhower and Stevenson and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.

In 1953, the family moved to 119 South William Street in Mt. Prospect, Illinois. Bob continued to work at the dealership.

Then, in late 1953, Bob and Lorraine decided to join their friends, Gladys and Richard Mills, in a move to Florida. The two families would go in the grocery business together.

In February, 1954, the Petelles and the Mills loaded up their cars and left for Clearwater, Florida. When they arrived they lived in adjoining apartments on Clearwater Beach. Plans were made and stock was ordered, and Bob and Dick opened Belleair Stop and Shop on Indian Rocks Road. Dick managed the store, Lorraine and Gladys worked as clerks.

Bob went to work as a real estate appraiser for Rodger, Rodgers and Cummings Real Estate. He got his real estate license and became a broker in 1955.

Eventually, Bob opened Petelle Real Estate on Clearwater-Largo Road. He moved his family to the McCord Apartments on Mehlenbacher Road in Belleair Bluffs on the edge of Largo, in 1954.

In early 1955, the family moved to Morgan Street on Belleair Beach. A son was born that year at Morton Plant hospital in Clearwater.

From 1958 to 1962, the family lived on the following streets around Largo: Renatta Dr., East Overbrook and West Overbrook.

They were seasoned packers and movers by this time.

Bob served as treasurer of Clearwater/Largo Board of Realtors, chairman of Largo March of Dimes, President of the church council of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (1958-61), and President of the Largo Lions Club (1959-60).

Petelle Real Estate sponsored a slow pitch softball team called the “Boomers”, a takeoff on the World Champion Clearwater Bombers. Bob played, but the star of the team was Walter J., his 70 year old father.

In early 1963, Bob, Lorraine and their two youngest children moved to Claremont, California. Their older daughter had completed two years of college and was working at Minneapolis Honeywell in Largo. She decided to remain in Florida.

Bob went to work for Mary Carter Paints which did not turn out to all that he had hoped. He decided to go back into real estate. They lived in the foothills above Claremont.

In March of 1965, Bob and Lorraine decided to move back to Largo, Florida and Bob made plans to open a used car dealership.

The dealership was on Park Blvd in Pinellas Park. Within a few months, Bob acquired a Toyota franchise – the first franchise outside Miami and New Orleans in the South. The first cars were bought through a dealership in New Orleans. Bob flew his son-in-law there where he picked up a Crown and towed a Corona back to Florida. They were the first two Toyotas displayed in the south outside of New Orleans and Miami.

Because of the lack of national advertising, the unfamiliarity of the auto, and poor parts and warranty programs, the dealership did not succeed. The franchise was put up for sale in 1966 and dealership closed its doors.

Bob went to work for Dick Mills as General Manager of Dick Mills Heating and Air Conditioning Warranties in Clearwater, Florida.

Bob decided to try his hand at the office supply business. He moved himself, Lorraine and their son to Kissimmee, Florida, the bustling community on the outskirts of Orlando. They opened First Office Supply at 508 Broadway.

On Oct. 28, 1968, Bob had a heart attack. In light of his health problems, running the office supply business was out of the question. The threesome moved back to Largo in 1969.

In 1971, Bob’s mother, Marie Hansen Petelle, died in Clearwater, Florida. She was buried in Sylvan Abby Memorial Park.

In 1972, Bob became the manager of Park View Terrace Mobile Home Park in Tarpon Springs, Florida. He was working for US Homes. He later managed Senate Manor in Hudson, Florida and Spanish Oaks in Ocala, Florida for US Homes. Other parks which Bob managed were Briar Creek, Safety Harbor, a park in Mt. Dora, and Oak Bend in Ocala.

In 1981, Bob’s father, Walter Joseph, died in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was buried next to Marie at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park in Safety Harbor.

Bob and Lorraine returned to Largo in 1984. Bob worked at several positions and Lorraine was working for Largo Office Supply when they decided to join their daughter and son-in-law and move to Orange Park, Florida near Jacksonville.

In mid June, 1987, Bob began work at Atkinsons Pharmacy, and looked for a place to live. In August, Lorraine joined them and they moved to 472 Bentwood Lane, Orange Park. Their mailing address was P.O. Box 1764. Lorraine went to work as a clerk for Atkinsons at a second location. They continued to work for Atkinsons until October of 1989.

Oct. 23, 1989, both Bob and Lorraine left Atkinson and went to work for Public Storage, a storage rental business at 271 Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park. They worked as a team with Lorraine managing the rental office and Bob doing all the supportive duties outside of the office.

By December of 1990, Bob was having a harder time doing the work that was necessary to do the job. He was hospitalized in February of 1991 at Humana Hospital, Orange Park, due to chest pain. After a heart catheterization, the family was advised that the only viable option at this point was open-heart surgery, to be done as soon as possible. Bob accepted the diagnosis and strongly voiced his decision to have the surgery.

Bob was transported by life-flight, 15 miles northeast to Jacksonville’s Memorial Medical Center. The surgery was successful but complications had occurred. Apparently, Bob suffered from a stroke during the recovery period and he was in a coma for the next week.

On Thursday, February 21, 1991, Bob suffered a cardiac arrest and died. The cause of death was cardiac arrest, secondary to cerebrovascular disease.

A memorial service was held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Largo, Florida three days later. Robert Anton Petelle was buried at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park, only a few hundred yards from his parents, Marie and Walter Petelle.

NOTE: Lorraine passed away in 2011 at the age 90.

Extracted with permission from Petelle A Family Genealogy, composed by Lynne Lorraine Petelle Johannes and Jan Johannes. November 1993, The Four Sons of Walter and Marie Petelle, page 54