Evelyn Anne Robel, “Evie,” age 85, of Oconomowoc, WI, entered eternal rest on November 7, 2026, at ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital, with her daughter and grandson by her side. Evie was born on December 15, 1940, in Elba, WI, to Lawrence and Arnetta (Crandall) Klawes.

Evie married Robert “Bob” Robel on June 8, 1957, and together they shared 69 years of marriage. She is survived by her husband, Bob; her daughter, Mary (Larry) Rogowski; her grandchildren, Louis (April) Krenn, Tracy (Rich) Miklas, Jason (Mel) Johnson, and Brian Johnson; her great-grandchildren, Jordan, Weston, Hayden, Christian, Ava, Nikolynn, Miley, Zoe, Jaxson, and Wyatt; her brother, Wayne (Jayne) Klawes; her brothers-in-law, Pat Murphy, Ray “Red” Rogness, Roger Lindsay, and Jim Robel; her sisters-in-law, Kathy Klawes, Patty Snyder, Jeanne Reimer, Cathy Grady, Judy Lemke, and Karen Robel; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Joan “Joanie” Krueger; her son-in-law, Edwin “Butch” Krueger; her brother, Roger Klawes; her sisters, Elda “Blondie” Murphy, Eleanore “Ellie” Rogness, Beverly Paulsberg-Lindsay, and Diane Schroeder; her sister-in-law, Sherry Robel; and her brothers-in-law, Rusty Robel and Ronnie Robel.

Auto racing was at the center of Evie’s life for most of her years. In the early days of Bob’s racing career, she was often his only help at home in the garage, whether changing an engine or having the trailer ready so they could take off for a race as soon as Bob got home from work. She was always by his side at the track. She also served as a scorer at many tracks across southeastern Wisconsin. Her passion for dirt track racing continued even after Bob retired. She regularly volunteered at the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame. In 2023, her dedication to the sport was honored with her induction into the Plymouth Racing Wall of Fame in the Dedication to Racing category, where her name is permanently etched beneath the grandstands at The Plymouth Dirt Track.

Evie had a gift for making things for the people she loved. She sewed clothing and crocheted many items for family and friends. She was an avid baker and loved sharing batches of homemade “Scrabble” and tins of Christmas cookies, which were always a welcome gift. She also took great joy in collecting rocking horses. She and Bob loved spending downtime at their vacation home in Tomahawk, which began as a getaway for hunting and snowmobiling but became a place they enjoyed year-round.

A devout Catholic, Evie was a member of St. Jerome Parish, and her faith was a steady presence throughout her life. Even when away from home, Bob and Evie never missed Sunday Mass.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, from 10 am to 11 am at St. Jerome Catholic Church, 995 S Silver Lake St, Oconomowoc, WI, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11 am. Interment will take place at St. Jerome Cemetery, Oconomowoc, WI. A light luncheon will follow at Okauchee Lions Club Pavilion, N49W34400 E Wisconsin Ave, Okauchee, WI. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to St. Jerome Parish in Evie’s name.

Evie leaves a legacy of faith, family, and a love of racing that will live on in all who knew her.