In Memory of Robert Diedrich
It is with heavy heart we had to say goodbye to Robert (Bob) Diedrich. Bob passed away on June 4th, 2025 with his family by his side. Bob lived a rich and fulfilling life with family and work for 90 years. He will deeply miss his family and the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram car business.
Bob started off life with a story to tell, being born on Chapel Hill Golf Course in Johnsburg, IL. Yes, his love of golf continued the rest of his life with highlights during the days of the Chrysler/Plymouth Charity Golf Outings. Bob was pulled out of school at a young age to work on the family farm. As Bob became an adult, his father wanted him to continue on the farm. Per Bob, he thought tractors were slow and boring and he wanted to do something more exciting. He did follow through with his promise. Bob worked for a Police Department, moved on to run a successful Snowmobile & Motorcycle dealership and sold Indian/Chaparral/BSA bikes/snowmobiles. He moved on to operate a Gas Station and Auto Service Center. He used to brag how he could sell truck loads of Mountain Dew and Pepsi on the weekends in Summer. After the gas crisis of the 70's, Bob moved on to his passion in 1979, being Dealer Principal for Sunnyside CDJR in McHenry, IL where he worked until late 2024. Originally started as a Dodge/Dodge Truck dealer, Bob was able to update the dealership with Chrysler and Jeep.
Bob's highlights he spoke about was being a personal guest of Lee Iacocca at a NADA conference in New Orleans. Lee wanted to know how Bob's Customer Service scores were so high, and Bob explained he came from the service side, not sales, and discussed what it meant to take care of a customer. Bob had generations of customers from the Gas Station and Motorcycle shop coming to Sunnyside for their car needs. He always used a quote Lee Iacocca told him during the difficult days of Chrysler in the early 80's, "The car business is like a wheel, and every revolution it runs over you". Bob had MANY friends in the car business, both dealers and factory. He said "Each one of us is going to give 100% selling each other's customers, it doesn't mean we can't be friends." Bob served on Chrysler dealer council, and in 1996 was one of the top selling Viper dealers in the US. In November 2024, Sunnyside celebrated 60 years in business at which Bob stepped away from daily operations.
During his younger years, he raced motorcycles, snow mobiles, and finally Sprint cars using a Plymouth body and 426 wedge. He was able to hold the track record at Rockford Speedway. This started Bob's love for Mopar's. Bob had a collection Indian motorcycles and other European bikes. Obviously being a car dealer, it raised eye brows that he didn't have cars. Bob said you can park four bikes for every one car spot. Bob's biggest pride and joy was his family. Bob was the oldest boy and one of 10 children. Bob was married to and survived by his wife Marilyn on June 16th, 1956. He has four children (Mark, Bobbie, Steve, & Dave), six grand-children, and nine great grand-children.
Visitation will be Sunday June 8th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Haase Lockwood Funeral Home in Twin Lakes, WI. https://www.haaselockwoodfhs.com/obituary/Robert-Diedrich