Herbert Behrel was born in Illinois, a son of Hugo Behrel and Katherine Annan 1876–1972.

He married his first wife Madelyn Reiter (1905-1963), daughter of Peter G. Reiter b~1872 and Anna Reiter b~1878 in 1926. They had a daughter b~1928 and a son b~1935.

Obituary:
During his 19-year tenure as mayor of Des Plaines, Herbert H. Behrel oversaw the construction of a city hall, police station, fire station and public works building.

But for many residents the pro-development mayor is remembered for the unpopular parking deck that bore his name. Erected in the 1970s and demolished in the mid-1990s, the blocklong parking structure was one of several downtown projects Mr. Behrel backed in hopes of spurring business development and the construction of high-rise office buildings.

He was the longest-serving mayor in Des Plaines' history, holding the post from 1957 to 1976. Mr. Behrel, 96, of Sun City West, Ariz., died there of multiple organ failure Friday, July 12.

"He always had the city's best interest at heart. Even though the [parking] deck didn't work out, there are testaments to his time as mayor all over town," said former Ald. Dan Kisslinger.

Mr. Behrel and his first wife, Madelyn, moved to Des Plaines shortly after they were married in 1926. When he was 43, Mr. Behrel was elected as 3rd Ward alderman and served in that position from 1949 until his election as mayor in 1957.

As mayor, he promoted downtown development and supported new zoning laws that allowed for construction of taller buildings downtown.

Colleagues described Mr. Behrel as persuasive and tough. He "wanted to make the downtown a business center," said former Mayor Jack Seitz, who was an alderman when Mr. Behrel was mayor. "He was a very progressive mayor and one of the best," he said.

While Mr. Behrel was in office, the city's population more than doubled, helped by annexations of nearby subdivisions such as Orchard Place and Devonshire.

"His vision was for having over 90,000 people live in the city," said former Ald. Carmon Sarlo. The 2000 census put the city's population at 58,720.

Though he opposed many of Mr. Behrel's plans for downtown redevelopment, Sarlo said he could always sit down and talk with the mayor. "We still got along. He was a congenial fellow, and that makes a good mayor," Sarlo said.

Mr. Behrel also oversaw construction of several municipal buildings and managed major capital projects, such as the installation of sewer lines.

Born and raised in Chicago, he attended Hibbard School there. Shortly after graduating from high school, he started working at Booth Fisheries in Chicago. He was eventually named manager of its transportation department and stayed with the company for 40 years.

Mr. Behrel moved to Sun City West in 1976.

Other survivors include his (second) wife Margaret, a daughter, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Source: Chicago Tribune July 17, 2002

Herbert Behrel was born in Illinois, a son of Hugo Behrel and Katherine Annan 1876–1972.

He married his first wife Madelyn Reiter (1905-1963), daughter of Peter G. Reiter b~1872 and Anna Reiter b~1878 in 1926. They had a daughter b~1928 and a son b~1935.

Obituary:
During his 19-year tenure as mayor of Des Plaines, Herbert H. Behrel oversaw the construction of a city hall, police station, fire station and public works building.

But for many residents the pro-development mayor is remembered for the unpopular parking deck that bore his name. Erected in the 1970s and demolished in the mid-1990s, the blocklong parking structure was one of several downtown projects Mr. Behrel backed in hopes of spurring business development and the construction of high-rise office buildings.

He was the longest-serving mayor in Des Plaines' history, holding the post from 1957 to 1976. Mr. Behrel, 96, of Sun City West, Ariz., died there of multiple organ failure Friday, July 12.

"He always had the city's best interest at heart. Even though the [parking] deck didn't work out, there are testaments to his time as mayor all over town," said former Ald. Dan Kisslinger.

Mr. Behrel and his first wife, Madelyn, moved to Des Plaines shortly after they were married in 1926. When he was 43, Mr. Behrel was elected as 3rd Ward alderman and served in that position from 1949 until his election as mayor in 1957.

As mayor, he promoted downtown development and supported new zoning laws that allowed for construction of taller buildings downtown.

Colleagues described Mr. Behrel as persuasive and tough. He "wanted to make the downtown a business center," said former Mayor Jack Seitz, who was an alderman when Mr. Behrel was mayor. "He was a very progressive mayor and one of the best," he said.

While Mr. Behrel was in office, the city's population more than doubled, helped by annexations of nearby subdivisions such as Orchard Place and Devonshire.

"His vision was for having over 90,000 people live in the city," said former Ald. Carmon Sarlo. The 2000 census put the city's population at 58,720.

Though he opposed many of Mr. Behrel's plans for downtown redevelopment, Sarlo said he could always sit down and talk with the mayor. "We still got along. He was a congenial fellow, and that makes a good mayor," Sarlo said.

Mr. Behrel also oversaw construction of several municipal buildings and managed major capital projects, such as the installation of sewer lines.

Born and raised in Chicago, he attended Hibbard School there. Shortly after graduating from high school, he started working at Booth Fisheries in Chicago. He was eventually named manager of its transportation department and stayed with the company for 40 years.

Mr. Behrel moved to Sun City West in 1976.

Other survivors include his (second) wife Margaret, a daughter, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Source: Chicago Tribune July 17, 2002