Robert W. Seidel
Robert W. “Bob” Seidl, age 77, of Hilbert, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Atrium Post Acute Care in Chilton. He was born March 20, 1939 in Seymour, WI, son of the late Joseph & Leona (Pantzlaff) Seidl.
Following his graduation from Seymour High School in 1957, Bob joined the United States Navy where he worked as a mechanic fixing submarines while stationed in San Diego and Hawaii. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1962 at which point he married Lou Ann Glasow on September 29, 1962.
Bob was employed in maintenance and also as a mechanic for several places in the area including Badger Northland, Parson’s Service Station, Central Garage, Calumet County, and the Hilbert School District from which he retired in 2001.
Bob was a proud member of the Kupsch-Brockman American Legion Post 127 in Hilbert. Bob was also a retired member of the Hilbert Volunteer Fire Department and was a long time member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hilbert.
Bob loved to travel and listen to music. With a passion for music, Bob also put his time to good use making several unique and folk instruments. He was very often seen walking around Hilbert in a goofy hat and suspenders taking time to visit and tell jokes with everyone he came across. With each Christmas season, Bob would also dress up as Santa Claus to spread joy to children and adults alike in the Hilbert area.
Bob loved nature and liked to feed the squirrels in his back yard and applied his ‘green thumb’ to grow plants and flowers. He was famous for his applesauce, apple butter and sauerkraut. He was a proud member of the Manders Racing Crew and was found at the track on Thursday nights watching Corey.
Bob’s greatest pride and joy was his grandson, Trenton; his ‘Little Button’. The two of them had a special connection and were best friends.
Bob will be sadly missed by his wife of 54 years: Lou Ann Seidl; his son: Dan (Deb) Seidl; his daughter: Jennifer (Rick) VanderSande; his grandson: Trenton Robert VanderSande; his brother: Bill (Jean) Seidl; his sister: Diane (Mark) Engel; brothers-in-law: Richard Giese and Leo King; and a sister-in-law: Doris Franz. Bob is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters: Shirley Giese & Eunice King; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Elverta & Bob Olson, Chip & Bev Glasow and Willard Franz.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 am on Friday, January 27, 2017 at St. Peter Lutheran Church (43 N. 3rd St.) in Hilbert with the Rev. Timmothy Heath officiating. Burial will follow in the Parish Cemetery. Friends may call at the Wieting Family Funeral Home (411 W. Main St.) in Chilton from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2017 and on Friday at the church from 9:30 am until 10:45 am.
The Seidl family would like to thank all those who have cared for Bob at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Calumet Medical Center, Heartland Hospice and Atrium Post Acute Care in Chilton, especially his favorite nurse, Cindy. Thank you also to Pastor Timm Heath for his many visits and words of comfort through Bob’s illness.