Robert Dean Albracht, 71, of Rock Island, passed away unexpectedly Friday, February 6, 2015 at UnityPoint Health-Trinity, Rock Island . Visitation will be held from 3-7pm on Tuesday, February 10 at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home in Rock Island. Funeral mass will be held at 10am on Wednesday, February 11 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island. Burial will immediately follow at Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, with Military Honors by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 299.

Memorials may be made to the family for a memorial fund to be established at a later date.

Bob was born September 26, 1943, eldest son of Germaine and Leander Albracht of Rock Island. He graduated from Alleman High School in 1961, and, after serving an extended tour of duty in Vietnam with the United States Army, graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1976.

He married Nanette Sheley of Moline on August 14, 1971, and they had 4 children. He worked as a Civil Engineer for more than 20 years, primarily with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Arsenal Island. Bob continued to serve his country in the United States Army Reserve. He then made a career change and joined the St. Louis Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Criminal Intelligence Officer.

Bob retired from the DEA after being recalled to active military duty following the attacks on September 11. As a U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division (CID) Special Agent, he was sent to the Pentagon crash site where he performed evidence recovery and forensics duty. Thereafter, he was assigned to a protection detail for the Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Army Joint Chiefs of Staff. He then led a Drug Suppression Team at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, where he was recognized for his outstanding performance.

With over 35 years of civilian and military service to the United States, his career spanned oversight of the Mississippi River Lock and Dam systems, working fraud investigations, counterintelligence, and contract security work with his brother Bill. Bob still found time to serve his local community as a Reserve Police Sergeant with the Rock Island Auxiliary Police Force.

Bob served with the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam and wore his green beret with pride. He was a combat-decorated veteran with 22 years of service to our country and was the recipient of two Bronze Stars (one for Combat Valor), two Army commendations (one for Combat Valor), the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and numerous other awards and decorations. In recent years, Bob had become active in Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 299, and served as its Secretary.

In his retirement, Bob spent his time travelling with Nanette, working out at the Arsenal, restoring his (still incomplete) 1973 Firebird, guiding his sons in home improvement projects, and tirelessly renovating his home - a still unfinished project 31 years in the works. Above all else in his life, he was a devoted family man and friend and spent most of his time with Nanette doting on their adoring kids and 6 grandchildren.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 43 years, Nanette; daughter and son-in-law Danielle Albracht and Edward Jack (UK); sons and daughters-in-law Brandon and Ashley Albracht (Davenport) and Jerad and Elizabeth Albracht (Madison, WI); grandchildren Molly, Natalie, Kellan, Shay, Erin and Trent; sister and brother-in-law Nancy and Paul Fischer (Rock Island); brother and sister-in-law William and Mary Albracht (Moline); brother and sister-in-law Donald and Beth Albracht (Overland Park, KS); brother-in-law Jeff Hicock (Rock Island); sisters-in-law Nancy Michalski (Moline) and Ann Sheley (Rock Island); numerous nieces and nephews; a large, loving, extended family and friends too numerous to count.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his infant son Grant Michael, his sister Mary Beth Hicock and his brother-in-law John (Jack) Sheley.

Online condolences may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com