Bob was born at home in Cold Spring Wisconsin on April 17, 1932. He passed away on Sun. Nov.3, 2019 at hospital in Laguna Hills, CA with his loving daughters: Sherri and Sue and their husbands: Craig Johnson and Robin Curry. Dad also, left behind his beloved daughter Sandy Ballard and her husband Steve and son Jeffrey. They had been with Bob for over a week coming from Hershey, PA and Saudi Arabia while he seemed to be rallying. He had fallen and broken his leg then had a heart attack and the surgeon put in stents but he lost his battle when his kidneys failed. He also left behind his younger brother David in Michigan and numerous nephews and nieces.
Bob’s parents were Meta Elsie and Charles F. Shuman who passed before. He also had 2 older brothers Charles and Neil. His sisters were: Louise and Doris both older. He worked hard doing chores on the farm in Wisconsin where he slept upstairs in an unheated room and used an outhouse. He had many friends from Whitewater which he has kept since grade school. He excelled at sports and especially enjoyed football. He lettered in 3 sports in high school. He graduated from UWMadison in Animal Husbandry. Bob was an officer in his fraternity Sigma Gamma Rho and Future Farmers of America. He met his wife Ann at a dance in his senior year and her freshman.
Bob was in the army for 2 years after college – one year in Korea. When he got leave for a week he married Ann in Milwaukee in 1956. They had 3 girls in 3 and a half years and Bob was co-owner of a dairy farm. Unfortunately, he lost his hand in a corn picker accident but he continued as a herdsman for 20 years on various farms in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. He had 2 hip replacements the second round caused a career ending. He moved out to California and remade himself with his cousin’s help- Owen and Kitty. He worked at the San Onofre nuclear plant for 16 years retiring and buying his own home in Oceanside. In retirement he loved square, line dancing and Tai Chi;
He made many friends and enjoyed the camaraderie of his neighbors and friends in Minooka, Whitewater and Oceanside. He was active in the Methodist Church and fully enjoyed the activities of the Del Obispo Terrace assisted living for almost 2 years.
He especially loved the bingo, exercise and going out for lunch. He overcame a lot of pain to keep going but never complained with his COPD, arthritis, frozen shoulder and blocked heart arteries. He cherished his 3 grandchildren in California seeing them frequently including holidays, weddings and Disneyland – Erik, Ryan and Jake. He even managed to bestow his love on 3 grandchildren: Amber, Ava and Brandt.
