On Saturday, July 30, Robert Michael Sihler (Bob), second-oldest of William and Lucille Sihler’s 4 children and born February 4, 1947 in Brooklyn, NY, passed after two years of battling one health crisis after another. He died peacefully and painlessly in Las Vegas at the age of 75.
Bob served in many professional positions and roles throughout his life, but perhaps the most defining was his collective time as an active-duty navigator in the United States Air Force and later as a member of the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard.
In that capacity, he flew missions from the routine to the perilous and the life-saving, including during the dark years of the Vietnam War. Defying fate, embracing luck, and utilizing his training, he always came back.
Bob went on to help his beloved wife Bernadette raise 4 sons and seemingly countless dogs. During that time, through times lean, comfortable, and in between, he always exemplified the same sacrifice for his family that he was willing to give for his country. In the lean times, his children never knew that they were such.
Aside from a patriot, husband, and father, Bob was also a man of humor and calm temperament. Despite having strongly held views on many issues, he was never one to descend into bitter words over them.
And no one will ever forget endearing traits such as his passion for reciting and even reenacting poetry, especially Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson and even more especially in front of young women his sons were dating, who never knew quite what to make of it but who always found it sweet and charming.
Now departed, Bob lives in the memories of many but especially among those of Bernadette; his four children Robert Jr. (and wife Katie), Christopher (and wife Keshia), Matthew, and Michael; his grandchildren Jackson, Dylan, Caroline, Thomas, Sawyer, and Lincoln; his last surviving sibling, Laurie Kennedy (and husband Joe); and his sister-in-law Maureen, wife to his late brother Bill and mother to his niece Bonnie and nephews Bill, Kevin, and Brendan.
His was a life of consequence, and we will miss him, value him, and honor him until we, too, lie down to rest.
A visitation for Robert will be held Wednesday, August 17, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Palm Northwest Mortuary, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89131. A funeral service will occur Thursday, August 18, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89131. A committal service will occur Thursday, August 18, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Southern Nevada Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veteran's Memorial Drive, Boulder City, NV 89005.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmnorthwest.com for the Sihler family. In lieu of sending flowers, please kindly consider donations to the Animal Foundation of Las Vegas (a no-kill shelter) or the Wounded Warriors Project.
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