Robert P. Fash, Sr.

Visitation for Robert Paul Fash, Sr., 94, will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 from 3:00pm to 8:00pm at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 415 S. Buesching Road, Lake Zurich.  Visitation will commence at 9:00am until the Funeral Service at 10:00am on Thursday, June 18, 2015 also at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home.  The Interment will follow at St. Patrick’s Countryside Cemetery, McHenry.

Bob passed away peacefully on June 14, 2015 at home with his family by his bedside.

Bob was a highly decorated World War II veteran and fighter ACE who served in the Pacific Theater.  After attending flight training in Pensacola, Florida, then Ensign Fash was assigned to the USS Bataan (CVL-29) as a member of fighter squadron VF-50.  While serving on the USS Bataan, and later with VF-15 on the USS Essex (CV-9), he shot down 6.5 enemy aircraft earning him the designation of ACE and was awarded three distinguished flying crosses and five air medals.  His heroism was also recognized with the award of the Navy Cross, the Navy’s second highest decoration for Valor, for his part in sinking an enemy carrier while flying with VF-15 off the USS Essex during the battle of Leyte Gulf on October 25, 1944.  He continued his service in the US Naval Reserves until 1962 retiring as a US Navy Lieutenant.  He went on to join Corporate Aviation in St. Louis as owner of Executive Air Transport and later became the Chief Pilot of Site Oil Company and the Central Conference of Teamsters in Chicago.

On Veterans Day 2012, Bob was honored by the USO at Soldier Field during a Chicago Bears game for his distinguished service to our country.  Most recently, on May 20, 2015, he received the Congressional Gold Medal for American Fighter Aces.

Bob is survived by his children Mary Ann Brown, Robert (Mary Ann) Fash, Jr. and Herbert Fash; his grandchildren Kimberly (Stephen) Kovac, Lindsey (Bob Gorman) Fash, Hillary Fash and Kendall Fash; his great-grandchildren Alexa Kovac and Reagan Kehoe Gorman.

Bob is preceded in death by his wife Margaret (Sisson) Fash, his older brother Lieutenant j.g. Herbert Fash who was killed in action on January 21, 1945 aboard the USS Hancock (CV-19), his son-in-law Joseph Brown and his great-grandson Robert Patrick Gorman, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Robert P. Fash, Sr.’s name may be made to American Fighter Aces Association (www.museumofflight.org/forms/donate – please designate your gift for Wings of Valor) or Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation (www.bearnecessities.org).