Robert Pils

Robert Pils, Schofield, passed away on Monday, December 22 at Marshfield Medical Center - Weston following a brief battle with lung cancer. He was 87. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Orvilla Pils, brothers in law Ken Seiler (Sylvia), John Seiler (Penny) and Dan Seiler (Betty) and sisters in law Jeannie Zastrow (Ray) and Arlene Sischo (Merrill).

Bob was born June 4, 1938 in Chicago, IL and spent his grade school years growing up alongside his brother and close extended family on Chicago’s near north side. Those years included many formative days spent visiting his aunt and uncle’s Marathon County dairy farm and grandparents’ grain and livestock farm in north central Iowa, playing, fishing and hunting with his cousins and close friends. Bob’s family later moved to central Iowa, where he graduated from Marshalltown High in 1956. He returned to Chicago to complete his formal education, graduating from the Art Institute of Chicago and working for a brief time as a commercial artist with IT&T before he was drafted into the US Army, where he served stateside for two years.

Shortly after receiving his honorable discharge, he applied for a graphic artist position with Employer’s Mutual (later to be known as Wausau Insurance) where he met his future wife, Bonnie. They were married on September 3, 1966 and spent 59 wonderful years together, a perfect couple in every way. Bob was an incredible father to their two sons, Greg and Andy, and along with Bonnie, brother Chuck’s family, and others they spent countless hours hunting, fishing, camping, attending sporting events and a zillion other activities. Every fall they returned to Iowa for pheasant season (Bonnie included!) and to catch up with close family and dear friends. Many good times were had during summer camping vacations exploring national parks throughout the mountain west and during summer holiday weekends with the Seiler clan around the campfire at Gilmore Lake. Bob retired from Wausau Insurance in 1998 and enjoyed a long and happy retirement, traveling the country and great lakes with Bonnie in their camper and internationally with their good friends, and welcoming his daughters-in-law Isabel and Shannon and granddaughter Ally into the family along the way. In 2010, Bob and Bonnie moved into their home on River Street where they enjoyed the beauty of the Eau Claire River and its fish and wildlife and the company of many good neighbors. He was a longtime member of the Wisconsin River Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited, serving for many years on its board of directors and taking great pleasure in helping with their many stream improvement projects and efforts to introduce young anglers to the sport that gave him and his family so many good times and treasured memories.

Bob was known to many for his good-natured personality, sincerity, warmth, caring and especially his ever-present sense of humor. He had a line for every occasion and wasn’t always terribly concerned with saying the socially appropriate thing! He was an avid reader of nonfiction, particularly history, historical biographies and natural history, and had a deep respect and appreciation for wildlife and natural communities that he shared with Bonnie and passed on to his sons. Nothing was more important to him than his family whether close or extended, and in old age he was widely considered the Pils and Kallestad family historian. He is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie, sons Andy (Shannon) and Greg (Isabel), granddaughter Ally, brother Chuck (Linda), special nephew Alan and niece Kristi and their families, and dozens of beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws.

A January 3 funeral is planned at Brainard Funeral Home Everest Chapel (5712 Memorial Court, Weston, WI, 54476), with visitation from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. and a remembrance service immediately thereafter. Casual attire is preferred.

The family expresses their gratitude to all the staff at Marshfield Clinic and Hospital for their extraordinary care, kindness and compassion during a difficult time. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Wisconsin River Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited or American Cancer Society will be appreciated.