Robert Bley
Ozaukee Press - December 21, 2000
Robert A. Bley was the last member of his family to run Bley's Bowling Lanes in downtown Port Washington - a business started by his grandfather in 1926.
Mr. Bley took over th business at 119 E. Main St. from his father Alois in the late 1950's and ran it until the late 1980's, when he sold it.
But he was more than just a businessman. He taught legions of young people the finer points of the game and was an acocmplished bowler himself. He won numerous tournaments, titles and awards and is among those included in the Ozaukeee County Bowling Association's Hall of Fame.
Mr. Bley, of 6040 Highway B, Belgium, died Saturday, Dec. 16, at St. Mary's Hospital Ozaukee in Mequon. He ws 78.
He was born in the Town of Belgium on Feb. 3, 1922, the oldest of six sons born to Alois and Frances Antoine Bley.
Mr. Bley was a member of the U.S.Navy during World War II, serving the Pacific Theater aboard the USS APC-41. He was a motor machinist 2nd class when he was discharged.
He was a member of the American Legion Post 82 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5373.
On May 10, 1947, he married Sylvia Philipps at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Port Washington.
Mr. Bley worked in the family bowling business until the late 1950's, when he bought the bowling center from his father. He ran the bowling lanes and his brother Don handled the tavern. Mr. Bley enjoyed teaching junior bowlers through leagues and high school gym classes, which began visiting the center in the early 1970's, family members said.
He was also a member of the Ozaukee County Bowling Association. "The business, bowling and his family were his primary interests," his son Robert said. "The thing I remember most is he was dedicated to his family." "Dad was involved in so much. He did like to golf, but because of his bad back didn't play it much. He was a Packers fan. He wasn't a rabid fan, but he wasn't a fair weather fan either."
He is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Bley believed in civic involvement, his son Robert said. "He did feel there was a need to be involved, especially since he wss a veteran," he said. Many of those civic organizations sponsored teams that bowled at the center, he added.
Mr. Bley involved his family in the business just as his father had gotten him involved, his son said. But by the late 1980's, Mr. Bley decided it was time to sell the family business. The business is called Willie's Lakefront Lanes today.
Mr. Bley is survived by his wife Sylvia of Belgium; his son, Robert of Milwaukee, Steven of Belgium, Larry of Ettrich and David of the Town of Port Washington; his daughter Carol(Edwin)Reichelt of Port Washington and three grandchildren.
He is further survived by five brothers, Donald(Iva), William(Esther), Fred(Betty), and Gary(Shirley), all of Port Washington, and Allen(Patricia)of Racine and his brother-in-law Fred(Henrietta)Phillips Sr. of Port Washington.
Funeral services for Mr. Bley will be held Thursday, Dec. 21, at St. Peters of Alcantara Catholic Church in Port Washington. Father Joseph Haas will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Entombment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Port Washington.
Ozaukee Press - December 21, 2000
Robert A. Bley was the last member of his family to run Bley's Bowling Lanes in downtown Port Washington - a business started by his grandfather in 1926.
Mr. Bley took over th business at 119 E. Main St. from his father Alois in the late 1950's and ran it until the late 1980's, when he sold it.
But he was more than just a businessman. He taught legions of young people the finer points of the game and was an acocmplished bowler himself. He won numerous tournaments, titles and awards and is among those included in the Ozaukeee County Bowling Association's Hall of Fame.
Mr. Bley, of 6040 Highway B, Belgium, died Saturday, Dec. 16, at St. Mary's Hospital Ozaukee in Mequon. He ws 78.
He was born in the Town of Belgium on Feb. 3, 1922, the oldest of six sons born to Alois and Frances Antoine Bley.
Mr. Bley was a member of the U.S.Navy during World War II, serving the Pacific Theater aboard the USS APC-41. He was a motor machinist 2nd class when he was discharged.
He was a member of the American Legion Post 82 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5373.
On May 10, 1947, he married Sylvia Philipps at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Port Washington.
Mr. Bley worked in the family bowling business until the late 1950's, when he bought the bowling center from his father. He ran the bowling lanes and his brother Don handled the tavern. Mr. Bley enjoyed teaching junior bowlers through leagues and high school gym classes, which began visiting the center in the early 1970's, family members said.
He was also a member of the Ozaukee County Bowling Association. "The business, bowling and his family were his primary interests," his son Robert said. "The thing I remember most is he was dedicated to his family." "Dad was involved in so much. He did like to golf, but because of his bad back didn't play it much. He was a Packers fan. He wasn't a rabid fan, but he wasn't a fair weather fan either."
He is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Bley believed in civic involvement, his son Robert said. "He did feel there was a need to be involved, especially since he wss a veteran," he said. Many of those civic organizations sponsored teams that bowled at the center, he added.
Mr. Bley involved his family in the business just as his father had gotten him involved, his son said. But by the late 1980's, Mr. Bley decided it was time to sell the family business. The business is called Willie's Lakefront Lanes today.
Mr. Bley is survived by his wife Sylvia of Belgium; his son, Robert of Milwaukee, Steven of Belgium, Larry of Ettrich and David of the Town of Port Washington; his daughter Carol(Edwin)Reichelt of Port Washington and three grandchildren.
He is further survived by five brothers, Donald(Iva), William(Esther), Fred(Betty), and Gary(Shirley), all of Port Washington, and Allen(Patricia)of Racine and his brother-in-law Fred(Henrietta)Phillips Sr. of Port Washington.
Funeral services for Mr. Bley will be held Thursday, Dec. 21, at St. Peters of Alcantara Catholic Church in Port Washington. Father Joseph Haas will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Entombment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Port Washington.
Robert Bley
Ozaukee Press - December 21, 2000
Robert A. Bley was the last member of his family to run Bley's Bowling Lanes in downtown Port Washington - a business started by his grandfather in 1926.
Mr. Bley took over th business at 119 E. Main St. from his father Alois in the late 1950's and ran it until the late 1980's, when he sold it.
But he was more than just a businessman. He taught legions of young people the finer points of the game and was an acocmplished bowler himself. He won numerous tournaments, titles and awards and is among those included in the Ozaukeee County Bowling Association's Hall of Fame.
Mr. Bley, of 6040 Highway B, Belgium, died Saturday, Dec. 16, at St. Mary's Hospital Ozaukee in Mequon. He ws 78.
He was born in the Town of Belgium on Feb. 3, 1922, the oldest of six sons born to Alois and Frances Antoine Bley.
Mr. Bley was a member of the U.S.Navy during World War II, serving the Pacific Theater aboard the USS APC-41. He was a motor machinist 2nd class when he was discharged.
He was a member of the American Legion Post 82 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5373.
On May 10, 1947, he married Sylvia Philipps at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Port Washington.
Mr. Bley worked in the family bowling business until the late 1950's, when he bought the bowling center from his father. He ran the bowling lanes and his brother Don handled the tavern. Mr. Bley enjoyed teaching junior bowlers through leagues and high school gym classes, which began visiting the center in the early 1970's, family members said.
He was also a member of the Ozaukee County Bowling Association. "The business, bowling and his family were his primary interests," his son Robert said. "The thing I remember most is he was dedicated to his family." "Dad was involved in so much. He did like to golf, but because of his bad back didn't play it much. He was a Packers fan. He wasn't a rabid fan, but he wasn't a fair weather fan either."
He is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Bley believed in civic involvement, his son Robert said. "He did feel there was a need to be involved, especially since he wss a veteran," he said. Many of those civic organizations sponsored teams that bowled at the center, he added.
Mr. Bley involved his family in the business just as his father had gotten him involved, his son said. But by the late 1980's, Mr. Bley decided it was time to sell the family business. The business is called Willie's Lakefront Lanes today.
Mr. Bley is survived by his wife Sylvia of Belgium; his son, Robert of Milwaukee, Steven of Belgium, Larry of Ettrich and David of the Town of Port Washington; his daughter Carol(Edwin)Reichelt of Port Washington and three grandchildren.
He is further survived by five brothers, Donald(Iva), William(Esther), Fred(Betty), and Gary(Shirley), all of Port Washington, and Allen(Patricia)of Racine and his brother-in-law Fred(Henrietta)Phillips Sr. of Port Washington.
Funeral services for Mr. Bley will be held Thursday, Dec. 21, at St. Peters of Alcantara Catholic Church in Port Washington. Father Joseph Haas will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Entombment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Port Washington.
Ozaukee Press - December 21, 2000
Robert A. Bley was the last member of his family to run Bley's Bowling Lanes in downtown Port Washington - a business started by his grandfather in 1926.
Mr. Bley took over th business at 119 E. Main St. from his father Alois in the late 1950's and ran it until the late 1980's, when he sold it.
But he was more than just a businessman. He taught legions of young people the finer points of the game and was an acocmplished bowler himself. He won numerous tournaments, titles and awards and is among those included in the Ozaukeee County Bowling Association's Hall of Fame.
Mr. Bley, of 6040 Highway B, Belgium, died Saturday, Dec. 16, at St. Mary's Hospital Ozaukee in Mequon. He ws 78.
He was born in the Town of Belgium on Feb. 3, 1922, the oldest of six sons born to Alois and Frances Antoine Bley.
Mr. Bley was a member of the U.S.Navy during World War II, serving the Pacific Theater aboard the USS APC-41. He was a motor machinist 2nd class when he was discharged.
He was a member of the American Legion Post 82 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5373.
On May 10, 1947, he married Sylvia Philipps at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Port Washington.
Mr. Bley worked in the family bowling business until the late 1950's, when he bought the bowling center from his father. He ran the bowling lanes and his brother Don handled the tavern. Mr. Bley enjoyed teaching junior bowlers through leagues and high school gym classes, which began visiting the center in the early 1970's, family members said.
He was also a member of the Ozaukee County Bowling Association. "The business, bowling and his family were his primary interests," his son Robert said. "The thing I remember most is he was dedicated to his family." "Dad was involved in so much. He did like to golf, but because of his bad back didn't play it much. He was a Packers fan. He wasn't a rabid fan, but he wasn't a fair weather fan either."
He is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Bley believed in civic involvement, his son Robert said. "He did feel there was a need to be involved, especially since he wss a veteran," he said. Many of those civic organizations sponsored teams that bowled at the center, he added.
Mr. Bley involved his family in the business just as his father had gotten him involved, his son said. But by the late 1980's, Mr. Bley decided it was time to sell the family business. The business is called Willie's Lakefront Lanes today.
Mr. Bley is survived by his wife Sylvia of Belgium; his son, Robert of Milwaukee, Steven of Belgium, Larry of Ettrich and David of the Town of Port Washington; his daughter Carol(Edwin)Reichelt of Port Washington and three grandchildren.
He is further survived by five brothers, Donald(Iva), William(Esther), Fred(Betty), and Gary(Shirley), all of Port Washington, and Allen(Patricia)of Racine and his brother-in-law Fred(Henrietta)Phillips Sr. of Port Washington.
Funeral services for Mr. Bley will be held Thursday, Dec. 21, at St. Peters of Alcantara Catholic Church in Port Washington. Father Joseph Haas will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Entombment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Port Washington.
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