Robert A. Mech, age 95, of Kenosha, passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at Aurora Hospital Kenosha.

Born on July 25, 1928 in Ingram, WI, he was the son of the late Theodore and Amanda Mech. He was a 1946 graduate of Greenwood High School and he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from U.W.-Whitewater in 1950.

His first teaching position was at Tripoli High School in Tripoli, WI, where he also served as coach of the boys and girls basketball teams.

He was in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.  He was stationed at Chanute Field in Rantoul, IL for three years. His last year of service was spent in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia with temporary duty assignment in Baghdad, Iraq and Karachi, Pakistan. He received the National Defense and Good Conduct medals.

He married Ethel Runge of Shawano, WI on November 26, 1955. He worked as an accountant and office manager for five years in West Bend, WI.

In 1960, he joined the staff of Kenosha Technical Institute, now Gateway Technical College, as an accounting instructor.  He earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Post graduate work continued at universities in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Colorado. He retired from Gateway Technical College in 1991.

In 1973, he was elected president of the Racine-Kenosha chapter of the National Association of Accountants. From 1974 to 1976 he served on the National Committee on Chapter Operations. In 1981, he was one of sixty- five directors elected from the national membership for a two-year term on the national board of the N.A.A.

He is survived by four children, Catherine (Mark) Probst of Weslaco, TX, Karen (Tom) Gavahan of Racine, Robert P. Mech of Rochester, MN and Russell Mech of Wausau, WI; four grandchildren, Peter (Roxanne) Jilk, Sarah (Alex) Rodriquez, Danny and Jamie Gavahan; great-grandchildren, Joseph and Noah Jilk; and a sister, Patricia Welsh of Tucson, AZ.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Ethel Mech; two children in infancy, John and Carolyn; two brothers, Melvin and Vernon and his sister, Jean.