Robert Fredrick “Fred” Deichman, 76 of Mt. Vernon, Illinois passed away at 5:20 A.M. on Monday, September 16, 2013 at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Fred was born on October 30, 1936 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois the son of the late Robert Charles Deichman and Clara Ethel (Short) Deichman Kolmer.  He married Joan Bullock on August 26, 1956 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and she preceded him in death on December 27, 2005. Surviving family members include his son: Chris F. Deichman and wife Carmen of Mt. Vernon, Illinois; 3 daughters: Stacy Deichman Cole and husband Mitch of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Kelley Deichman of Dix, Illinois and Jodi Deichman of Mt. Vernon, Illinois; 6 grandchildren: Kaelin Pierce and husband Adam, Brennan Cox, Kyle and Graham Hartman and Reid and Lane Deichman; 2 great grandchildren: Wade and Ty Pierce. His parents, stepmother: Evelyn Deichman, stepfather: Anthony H. “Tony” Kolmer, wife: Joan Deichman, two sisters: Veneta Flanagan and Marie Creek and one brother: Bill Hayes preceded him in death.   Fred was starting forward on the 1954 Mt. Vernon Rams State Championship Basketball team, was a salesman for Lorillard Tobacco Company for 33 years, was an avid outdoorsman and was a member of First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, member of Masonic Lodge #31 A.F. & A.M., the Ainad Shrine Temple East St. Louis and the Jefferson County Shrine Club. In honor of Fred's participation in the 1954 Mt. Vernon Rams State Championship Basketball team, the family requests that friends wear the Rams' school colors: orange and black to the visitation and funeral service.     FUNERAL SERVICE: will be held at 1:00 P.M. Thursday, September 19, 2013 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Reverend Dan Lovin will officiate. VISITATION: will be from 5 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois INTERMENT: Bethel Memorial Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Illinois. For those who wish, memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association or to MVTHS Athletic Department and will be accepted at the funeral home or may be mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864.