Robert L. Dannehl, 92, died Sept. 23, 2018.  

A retired judge and attorney, Judge Dannehl was the ninth of twelve children born to his parents William Dannehl and Gussie Racuglen Dannehl on Labor Day, Sept. 6, 1926. Born in Thawville, he moved to Onarga and attended Onarga Public Schools, the University of Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in June of 1950. 

His college days followed military service as a 17-year-old volunteer in the United States Navy during World War II in 1944 and 1945. He served in anti-submarine warfare in the North Atlantic arena in the winter of 1944 and 1945. He operated a then top-secret high-frequency direction finder and was privy to the top-secret knowledge that the German secret code had been broken.

In September 1950, he opened a general law office in Watseka with law classmate Billy Davis, and served two terms as state's attorney of Iroquois County from 1956 to 1964. In 1976, he was appointed circuit judge to succeed Judge David Oram. His service commenced Jan. 1, 1977, and concluded with his retirement Oct. 31, 1995. He served in Iroquois, Kankakee, and Will counties. On June 10, 1951, he married Ruth Ann Nielsen. She preceded him in death on June 7, 2011. 

Surviving are two children, Dr. Karl N. Dannehl (Mary) from Atlanta, Ga. and Sara J. Mikuta-Henry (Robert), from Western Springs. Also surviving are the following grandchildren: Joseph Robert Mikuta, Nicholas James Mikuta (Gina), John Zeitler Dannehl, Cherylyn Henry, Laurin Henry Ewing (Andrew) and one great grandchild, Nicholas James Mikuta, Jr. He is also survived by his youngest brother, Wayne Dannehl (Carole) from Hayward, Wisc., and brother-in-law, Charles Lucas, from Alexandria, Va., and many beloved nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.