Robert L. Shaw

Robert L. Shaw   6/9/1926 – 4/5/2023

How do you summarize almost a century of living in a few paragraphs?  So many memories, so many stories about a man who lived a full and (mostly) good long life!

Bob passed away peacefully and painlessly early Wednesday morning, April 5, at home with his wife by his side.  He likely already has a tee time in heaven!   He has joined his son, Bob, Jr., and younger brother Jack on the course.  Sure to be kibitzing on the sidelines of the heavenly course will be Bob's sister, Nancy.  Parents Cora (nee Doxrude) and Harrison Shaw, along with sons-in-law Dave Hargrove and Russ Biesecker will also be present at a post-round gathering.

Attending elementary school in Nelsonville and high school in Amherst, WI, his grades were average (with slightly less stellar marks in comportment).  He was always proud to tell about scoring the highest score on the 8 ^th grade test in Portage County!  Following graduation in 1944, Bob joined the United States Air Force hoping to be trained as a pilot.  He served as the PFC/AC with the 3508th Army Air Force Base Unit as their supply clerk.  Bob qualified for the Carbine Marksman Pistol, and received the American Theater Ribbon as well as the WWII Victory Medal.  Unfortunately, pilot training never materialized but he did an outstanding job of guarding the state of Arizona during the war

Following his honorable discharge on November 24, 1945 at Truax Field Air Force Base in Madison, Bob began working for Schlitz brewery in Milwaukee and subsequently as a truck driver for CW Transport.  In 1951, Bob married the former Flora Kruschke.   From Milwaukee, Bob and his family – daughters Pam, Lori, Sue, and son Bobby, moved to Wisconsin Rapids where he ultimately became Director of Line Haul for Central Wisconsin Trucking.  He retired in 1988 after 39 years with the company.

Bob and Flora later divorced and on August 18, 1985, he married Patricia Brost (nee Worden), and became step-dad to Steve Brost.  Together, Bob and Pat traveled to every state in the US (including a "bucket list" drive to Alaska) and several trips to Europe and Mexico.   They particularly enjoyed Paris and the Normandy beaches which had special meaning for Bob after having served during WWII.  While visiting Utah beach, a descendant of a WWII French Resistance fighter thanked Bob for his service – a very special memory and emotional honor for Bob.

Golf was Bob's passion and he had wonderful memories of golfing with his son, Bob Jr., his step-son Steve, his brothers, and many friends while he was a member of Bull's Eye Country Club where he scored three holes-in-one.  Many of his friends likely still remember a couple of memorable birthday parties at the Ridges and BECC!  Bob also played many rounds at Lake Arrowhead and Sentry World.  Golf clubs were toted on business trips with Dave Hulke, Florida vacations with the guys, and on several vacations to Arizona and other states.  He finally put the sticks away at age 91.

Bob was also an avid bowler "back in the day", bowling in the Elks Club and CW Transport leagues for many years.  In addition, he took great pride in caring for his lawn, his cars, and the people he loved. In addition to those mentioned above, Bob was also preceded in death by his father and mother-in-law, Kenneth ("Dutch") and Dorothy Worden (nee Bach), brother- in- law, Jim Worden, sisters- in- law Hilde Shaw and Joan Shaw and two half  brothers Clark and Phillip Shaw.  He is survived by his wife, Pat, brother, Charlie, daughters Pamela Hargrove, Lori Biesecker, and Susan (Tim) Crotteau and step-son Steve (special friend Rachel).  He is further survived by grandchildren Dustin (Jayme) Bowden, Kimberly Bowden and her son, Jacob; Sara, Andy, and Abby Crotteau; Kaileen and Blake Brost, as well as nephews Tom (Vicki) Shaw and their three sons; Bill (Ann) Shaw and their two sons; Eric (RuthAnne) Shaw and their daughter; and niece Linda (Joe) Konrad, and their two children.   Two brothers-in-law, Bob (Connie) Worden, and his two children, and Bill Worden and his two children also survive

Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at the Pisarski Community Funeral Home in Plover and from 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, April 12, at St. Bronislava Catholic Church until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m.  Father Jim Trempe will officiate.   Military honors will follow directly after mass, with burial following in Restlawn Cemetery, Wisconsin Rapids.

Honorary pall bearers are Dave Hulke, Charlie Sedevie, Scot Herman, Bill Haddow, Dennis Mancl, Dan McCarville, Roger Babcock, and Fred Zurawski.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Robert L. Shaw, Jr. Memorial Scholarship through the Incourage Community Fund of Wisconsin Rapids, or the Worden/Shaw AODA Prevention Scholarship through the Tomorrow River Scholarship Foundation in Amherst, WI.

Special thanks to all who walked this long and difficult journey with us, especially Father Ed, Tahn and Linda, Bill and Lynn, Karen and Dick, Mary, George, our incredible neighbors Bobby and Kay and Mike and Cyndi, Sue and Tim, Steve and Rachel, Bette, Rachele, Monica, Tim and Samantha from Interim Health Care of Wausau, and "our college girls", aides Abby, Caitlin, Sam, Caitlyn S., Caitlyn P., and Mai.

Footnote:  Although Bob was not cremated, he said that if he were to be cremated following his demise, he would like his ashes scattered in the trap near the clubhouse on #18 at BECC.  That way, when his former golfing buddies ended up there, he could laugh and say, " Hah!  I got those (guys) again!"

The Pisarski Funeral Home of Plover is honored to be serving the family. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.pisarskifunerlhome.com