Robert Harlan Diaz, Jr., known to most as Bob, Butch, Catfish, or Grandpa Bob, passed away at the age of 85 on July 16, 2024 in Alton, Illinois after a long illness. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Bob’s life story was a quintessentially American one. He was born and raised in Illinois on the banks of the Mississippi, where he acquired his love for fishing, folk songs, and fun. After graduating from Alton High School, his love of learning took him to Princeton University, his love of country into the United States Navy, and his love of thinking to Harvard Law. While in law school he met Alice Mellon, who became his devoted wife of 48 years. They married in 1964 and settled in Milwaukee, where Bob joined the firm of Quarles and Brady, LLP. The friends he made there were a fixture of his life and that of his family.
Bob was a man of searing intellect and infinite curiosity. He always kept two or three new part-time hobbies in rotation while continuing his obsession with woodworking, golf, and fly fishing. His knowledge of any subject that caught his interest was encyclopedic and remained so long after he set it down for something new.
Bob was a friend to people from many walks of life and detested snobbery of any kind. While sitting with him, one could begin with talk about bass fishing, move on to literature or poetry, and finish by listening to one of his beautiful a capella renditions of an off-color drinking song from the traditional American canon. All while sitting in front of a campfire sharing fingerfuls of cheese he had sliced and served on a canoe paddle.
Bob loved to travel, especially to Ireland with Alice, where he would sit in the corner of his favorite pub and play his harmonica during a session. His travels took him around the world and led him in turn to open his home to family—of one sort or another—from as far off as Japan, Norway, and Australia.
Bob loved his family. He loved to play music and sing, especially with his children and grandchildren at the annual St. Patrick’s Day party every March in Mequon. He loved his friends, the music, the corned beef, and (yes) the whiskey. And we loved him right back.
It must also be said that Bob Diaz—husband, father, grandfather, friend, attorney, craftsman, musician, outdoorsman—could dance while balancing a glass of beer on his head longer than anyone in the history of the world.
We will not see the likes of him again.
Bob is predeceased by his loving wife, Alice Mellon Diaz. He is survived by his three sons, Robert James “R.J.” (Akiko) Diaz of Strongsville, Ohio, Michael Harlan (Denise) Diaz of South Lyon, MI, Timothy Edward (Karen) Diaz of Brentwood, NH, one daughter, Catherine Elizabeth (Greg) Capello of Seekonk, MA, honorary son Brad (Shawn) Feltz of Germantown, WI, twelve grandchildren, and two sisters, Cecilia Diaz and Elena Diaz of Port Washington, WI. Also surviving Bob is his longtime companion, Linda Nevlin of Godfrey, IL, to whom the family will always be indebted.
Visitation will take place on Thursday, July 25, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Feerick Funeral Home, 2025 E. Capitol Dr. in Shorewood, WI. Funeral service will be held at 12:00PM. The service will be live streamed, please click here to watch. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Lake Church, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
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