In loving memory of

Robert "Bob" J. Schoepp
May 3, 1917 - November 9, 2012

Waunakee/Westport - Robert J. Schoepp Sr. after 95 active years died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Friday November 9, 2012. Bob was born on May 3, 1917 to John and Pauline (Loeser) Schoepp in Roxbury, Wisconsin. He grew up on the family farm on Fish Lake, the spoiled youngest sibling of sisters Corine and Elsie and brothers Harold and Walter who preceded him in death.

In 1942 he married Vivian Patterson. Bob and Vivian had 39 wonderful years of marriage raising their family on their Lodi farm. In 1964 they moved to Westport, and Bob worked for 20 years at Central Colony. Bob and Vivian enjoyed Canadian family travels, fishing, their children's marriages and grandchildren. Vivian preceded Bob in death in 1981.

In 1984 Bob married Billie Rita. Bob and Billie enjoyed 28 happy years traveling to many US states and Canada and making wine together and more grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Survivors include his loving wife Billie Rita; daughters Susan Dahlke and Mrs. Jerry Larkins and son, Robert Jr. (Julie); grandchildren Jennifer (Scott) Gilles, Stephanie Williams, Angie Gilbertson, and Tony Schoepp; and 10 great-grandchildren. He is further survived by Billie's children; Richard, Kathleen, Margaret, Colleen and John; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Bob was an avid fisherman, hunter, winemaker, swimmer, and the family historian storyteller.

Prior to his death, Bob came home from his brief hospitalization, and celebrated his 28th wedding anniversary to Billie, with a candlelight dinner, from Rex's Innkeeper.

The family is grateful for the health services provided on several occasions by Waunakee EMS, St. Mary's Hospital, Dr. Rolf Quisling, Dr. Paul Searles, Dr. Trent Thompson, and Jenny Summers, RN.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 11:00 am at Saint Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Westport with visitation at 10:00am. Friends may call at the Winn-Cress Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at which time the rosary will be said.

At Bob's request, in lieu of flowers memorials may be made in his name to St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church or St. Jude's Children Hospital.

Tributes

Susan Dahlke wrote on Nov 25, 2012:

"Nov 8, 2012 Happy Anniversary! Twenty-eight years ago today, Dad married Mom. Dad asked that I take them to Rex's Innkeeper so he could buy celebration dinners, tonight! Life changes on a dime....... Monday, Dad had a stroke, which left his speech garbled. Transported to St. Mary's Hospital via ambulance & admitted, we were excited & counting our blessings, on Tuesday when no brain bleed was evident on scan, & his speaking ability returned. Plans included returning home on Thursday. However, Wednesday afternoon, garbled speech again occurred, & another brain scan showed no brain bleed. Dad has a very tired heart, confused, not responding to us, actively hallucinating, taking in no fluids or nourishment, & is managed with sedating medication. I'm preparing myself for the worse, & hoping for the best. No one believes he is 95 years old, because he has such muscular strength, & has never looked his age. This brings back memories of my nursing days.....you could always recognize the patients who were farmers, by their brute strength. I know I have your support & prayers without even asking, & I'm very grateful. What I ask, is that your take the time to say "Hi" to your Dad today, both on this side or crossed over. That would just make my day, The Best! Sue D. Dad is coming home..... The family has made the decision, & although difficult, we are feeling very good about it. I believe Dad knows it, too. Sue D. St. Mary's was recommending Hospice inpatient care, where they assess & stabilize comfort care management. Dad is now a Hospice patient, however, we brought him home, & will stabilize his comfort care management, here. Can you tell who was a little bit bossy? Actually, you would have been quite proud of me & my listening skills. We had a family meeting, including Dad, who is essentially comatose. After airing all concerns, we all concluded that Dad was coming home. The most fantastic thing happened, when slid on to the Stryker frame.....his breathing became regular, measured breaths, & continued during ambulance trip home, & in his own bed. Settled in, we got a plan in order, set up the family care/coverage schedule, then celebrated the anniversary with dinners from Rex's Innkeeper!.....with wine, flowers, & candles. It was really quite fantastic, & a celebration. I am so confident with our choice. Dad continues his breathing evenly, without apnea. He is comfortable, & will choose when to leave us..... Nov 25, 2012 Marriage: Love is the reason. Friendship is the gift. Kindness is the cause. Til' death do us part is the length. Our children, grandchildren, & great-grandchildren is the legacy. On behalf of my recently departed husband, Robert J. Schoepp Sr., I would like to thank those who were supportive of us during a most difficult time. My appreciation goes out to those family members, friends, health service staff, & Fr. Greg Ihm. I sincerely thank you all and am forever grateful. Billie Rita Schoepp The Greatest gift I ever had Came from God; I called him Dad! We wish to thank our extended family, community of friends, & the professionals of Waunakee EMS, St. Mary's Hospital, Winn Funeral Home, & the clergy & congregation of St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church, for their compassionate support during the loss of our Dad. The Robert J. Schoepp Sr. Family Children Susan, Robert, Linda, Richard, Kathleen, Margaret, Colleen, & John A Tribute to Gramps, at his 95th Birthday Party Memories I hold in my heart..... When I think of you, I think of how much fun it was to just follow you around all day. You were always busy, always moving, checking fishing lines, watering plants & flowers. I think of you lifting me high to ring the owl bell when I arrived, when I was leaving, & anytime in between. I think about sitting down with you for an afternoon snack of an apple, always cut up & peeled, of course. I think of catching perch with drop lines on the lake, in the evening, with you & Grandma. It was one of my favorite things to do. It seemed like the perch were always biting. I think of the whole family getting together to hand churn ice cream, in the winter, with ice from the river. Ice skating with my sister & cousins, until we were cold, & then eating ice cream for supper. Getting to spoon ice cream off the beater with you was a rare & special treat. There was always chocolate syrup, Oreos, & saltine crackers, to go with the ice cream. I tell my girls all the time, about how much fun it was to have ice cream for supper & then, a little pizza, if we still had any room. I think about your chocolate stars in a mayonnaise jar in the refrigerator. I think of real Christmas trees decorated in silver foil balls, red cardinals, & tinsel hung one stand at a time. I think about getting a postcard from you every Tuesday, while I was at college. I think about dancing polkas & playing Euchre with you. I think about our fishing trips to Canada, I think about you walking me down the aisle on my wedding day. I think of you napping with my baby in your arms in the afternoon. My heart is full of memories like these, of times spent with you, & I am so happy that my children know & love you, too! As always, Schlaf Gut, & Ruf Me. The Robert J. Schoepp Sr. Family Grandchildren Ages 44, 43, 42, 40, 33, 30, 29, 28, 20, 14, 12 10 The Robert J. Schoepp Sr. Family Great-Grandchildren Ages 18,14,14, 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1, infant"