Obit: Crosby, Robert Eugene (1935 – 2005)

Poster: Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Crosby, Olson, Lange, Brugger, Wadsworth, Hochmuth, Osinski, Bice, Ylvisaker, McCoy, Klahn

 

---Source: Wausau Daily Herald (Wausau, Marathon Co., Wis.) Wed, Feb 2, 2005

---Crosby, Robert Eugene (19 Feb. 1935 – 31 Jan. 2005)

Robert Eugene Crosby

Robert Eugene Crosby, 69, of 4 Laurence Street, Montreal, Wisconsin, and formerly of Wisconsin Rapids, died Monday, January 31, 2005, at Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids.

At Bob's request, no formal services will be held and cremation will take place.

Bob's family will visit with friends and relatives on Thursday, February 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home, 2201 Chestnut Street (Highway 54 at Chestnut Street), Wisconsin Rapids.

He was born February 19, 1935, in Merrill, Wisconsin, son of the late Lynn Lester Crosby and Edna June (Olson) Crosby Lange. He grew up in Merrill and graduated from Merrill High School with honors in 1953.

Bob enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, becoming a bomb-navigational specialist in the Strategic Air Command. He achieved the rank of staff sergeant and participated in three annual SAC bombing competitions.

Following discharge from the USAF, Bob attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a bachelor of administration degree in 1964. He later attended UW-Oshkosh in the MBA program. He was married to Sandra Brugger in 1963 and divorced in 1984.

Bob joined the paper industry as a mill planner with Kimberly-Clark, then Consolidated Papers, Wisconsin Rapids, as an operations analyst, production and inventory control manager and production manager. He then transferred to a subsidiary, Consoweld Corp., as manufacturing manager and administrative services director. In 1986 he moved to Montreal and worked in real estate sales, liquor store management, and was a motor route driver for the Duluth News-Tribune and Ironwood Daily Globe until his disability in 1996.

Bob was athletically active throughout his life, belonging to Bull's Eye Country Club, Packs & Paddles Canoe Club and Tri-City Curling Club. He was also active in various civic and professional organizations.

On December 27, 1988, he married Lou (Wadsworth) Hochmuth. They settled in Montreal, where together they enjoyed gardening and skiing.

Survivors include his wife, Lou, Montreal; a son, Curt (Lori), Wisconsin Rapids; a daughter, Darcy (Doug) Osinski, Colorado Springs, Colorado; four grandchildren, Alexander Crosby, Wisconsin Rapids, and Benjamin, Jack and Evelyn Osinski, Colorado Springs; two stepsons, Alfred P. (Nancy) Hochmuth, Germantown, Wisconsin, and Marc R. Hochmuth, Cincinnati, Ohio; two stepdaughters, Patricia (Ken) Bice, Verona, Wisconsin, and Cheryl (Steve) Ylvisaker, Minneapolis; a brother, Jack (Mary Ann), Mosinee, Wisconsin; a sister, Lynette McCoy, Tampa, Florida; seven step-grandchildren, Andrew Klahn, Kevin and Kinsey Bice, Heidi Ylvisaker, and Gabriele, Samantha and Hunter Hochmuth; three nieces; a nephew; grandnieces and grandnephews; and many cousins.

Those who wish to honor Bob's memory with a monetary gift are asked to consider Children's Service Society of Wisconsin, 1212 S. 70th Street, West Allis, WI 53214 or the American Cancer Society.

Bob's family will always be grateful for the kindness and caring, support and courtesy he and they received from so many wonderful caregivers at St. Joseph's Hospital, Edgewater Haven and Riverview Hospital. They are a credit to their profession.