In Memoriam: Robert J. Krehbiel

December 8, 1948 - January 22, 2023

Robert John Krehbiel passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2023.

He was the beloved son of the late Herbert and Helen Ruth Krehbiel, Loving brother of Kristi Krehbiel Valenti, step-father of Thomas Stiffler (Daniela), dear uncle of Dominic (Allison) and James Valenti (Christy), dear grandfather and great uncle.

Bob was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Knox College, graduating magna cum laude with honors in English and Theology in 1971.  Following college and before attending law school, Bob served two years with the United States Peace Corps in India.  He then worked at the Military Personnel Records Center in St Louis for over three-and-a-half years.

Bob graduated from Washington University School of Law, was a member of the Order of the Coif, and began practicing law in Saint Louis in 1980. He was admitted to the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, United States District Court, Eastern & Western District of Missouri and the Supreme Court of Missouri. He was also a member of the Missouri Bar and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.

Bob practiced law for nearly 42 years. He was an integral member of Hellmich, Hill & Retter, LLC, and its predecessor, King, Krehbiel & Hellmich, LLC for the last 22 years. Prior to that, he was an associate and partner at Evans & Dixon. Bob was a prolific litigator, with vast, proven experience, particularly in matters of employment law and civil rights. He was a talented writer, consummate professional, and a treasure to the legal community.

As anyone who practices in this area knows, Bob was a mild-mannered giant in the civil rights and employment discrimination fields. He tried nearly 100 cases to verdict and won hundreds of others by way of dispositive motion. He was universally respected by judges, clerks and other lawyers. Indeed, the highest compliment of Bob’s legal acumen and trial skills most often came from his opposing counsel. If you drew Bob as your opposing counsel, there were two things that you knew: (1) your opponent was formidable, one of the best defense attorneys in town; and (2) you would be treated with respect, and that you could trust Bob absolutely. He was a man of impeccable character whose word was truly his bond.

Of far more importance than his accomplishments as a lawyer, Bob was one of the finest persons that any of us at the firm ever had the privilege of knowing. He was always a reliable partner, a generous mentor and a beloved friend. The word “gentleman” is often used loosely, but Bob embodied it in every sense. He was extremely close with his parents and sister, Kris, and forged a lifelong bond with his stepson Tom. Bob will be dearly missed by his family, all of us at HHR, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. His passing is a great loss, but his legacy is enduring.

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