Robert Richard Vehe, 75, a 40-year resident of Mt. Prospect, was a retired manager of contract administration and vice president of sales for Kleinschmidt Corp., Deerfield, a computer service company.
Mr. Vehe, who was born in Evanston, died July 9 in Wisconsin.
Mr. Vehe was a nationally recognized volunteer for speed skating and cycling organizations.
Mr. Vehe attended Armstrong School in Rogers Park and graduated from New Trier High School in 1940. He got a bachelor’s degree in history in the 1940s from Duke University, where he was a member of the basketball team. In 1957 he earned a certificate in industrial management from the Industrial Management Institute at Lake Forest College.
Mr. Vehe served on a Navy troop ship in the Pacific during World War II. After the war he earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University in 1950.
He retired in 1971, after 21 years with Kleinschmidt Corp., where he had been vice president of sales since 1957. After retirement from Kleinschmidt he worked as a real estate agent for George L. Busse and Co., Mt. Prospect, for several years.
In 1994 he was inducted into the U.S. Amateur Speedskating Union Hall of Fame, Newburgh, N.Y.
“Mr. Vehe’s contributions to the sports of speed skating and cycling have been equalled by no one,” said William Markland, a friend and chairman of the short track speed-skating committee of the International Skating Union.
Markland said that although Mr. Vehe was not a skater, he became interested in the sport when his sons began skating and was one of the organizers of the Mt. Prospect Skating Club in the early 1970s.
“He was the coordinator of the Mt. Prospect speed-skating competitions for 20 years,” said Markland.
Markland said that Mr. Vehe was also instrumental in helping develop a summer cycling event in Northbrook into a major North American cycling competition.
Mr. Vehe compiled, and for the last 25 years published handbooks for both speed-skating and cycling competitions. He was also editor for the past 10 years of Racing Blade, the magazine of the Amateur Speedskating Union.
“He did it all on his own, with very little assistance,” said Markland. “He was a fighter for the sport of speed skating. His contributions will be missed.”
“He had the old-fashioned virtues that are missing today,” said his wife of 49 years, Ruth, whom he met at Armstrong School.
Other survivors include a daughter, Constance Simo; two sons, Robert E. and Dr. Richard K.; a sister, Ruth Robinson; and five grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
