Robert “Bob” Sherwood, 83, surrounded by his family, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, at the Serenity House in Tomah.
Bob was born in Manchester Township, Jackson County, to Robert E. and Enda (Williams) Sherwood on Aug. 11, 1939. Left by his dad when he was 12, Bob began working for area farmers; he was working full time by the time he was 16. He worked in the cities of Chicago and Milwaukee in factories and part time at a gas station in Milwaukee for Maynard Wagner.
When Bob’s mother remarried, Charlie Christensen became his stepdad. He was the best dad a boy could ever ask for! Bob often commented the song “The Dad He Didn’t Have to Be” reminded him of Charlie.
He married Lucy (Noth) on Sept. 29, 1962. In 2022, they celebrated their 60th anniversary. Bob and Lucy moved to New Lisbon, where he ran a Sinclair Station and drove bus for the school system. After the interstate was built, they moved to Tomah. He worked in Tomah as the service manager for the Dailey Chrysler garage, Howard Bachens in the re-treading tire business, and then ran his own Texaco Station where Marten Floor Covering is today.
In 1967, he bought a farm south of Tomah, obtained a salvage license, and began Sherwood Forest Salvage Yard. Lucy worked alongside her husband as the bookkeeper and helped run their Army Surplus business. For several years, Bob was a member of the Civil Defense Posse, later known as the Monroe County Sheriff’s Reserves. He worked security for many area dances and events and responded to emergencies in Monroe County.
Bob was baptized in the Lutheran faith on Dec. 26, 1971, with his baby daughter Robbin at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.
Bob drove bus for the Tomah School District for several years.
In the 1980s, he moved the recycling business to downtown Tomah, along with the Army Surplus business. Bob ran the recycling, and Lucy ran the surplus store. Bob also read meters for the Oakdale REC Electric Company for 17 years.
Bob was an avid hunter of deer, turkey, and elk. He loved the mountains and returned whenever possible to hunt in the west. Time spent with his children and grandchildren was very important; he took them all to banquets for the wildlife. Bob was a director and board member for years with the Turkey Federation and the Elk Foundation, with the grandchildren working right alongside him.
Bob dealt in military equipment; he bought at Army bases in several states, meeting and making lifelong friends.
Bob loved to have his family around him gathered at the table, especially at Christmas, when he always handed out all the gifts. His girls, including his mom, wife, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, goddaughters, and their daughters, each received a Valentine’s heart of chocolates every Valentine’s Day. He began this at age 18 and continued this tradition up until this day.
On birthdays, he first took his daughters, and then his granddaughters, shopping and eating at Applebee’s or Portillo’s, which became a tradition.
His nieces, nephews, and cousins were very important to him. Bob and Lucy rarely missed a graduation, wedding, anniversary, or family reunion.
Bob was a man who believed in small businesses; he felt they were the backbone of America. His recycling business brought people from surrounding areas. He will be missed not only by his family, but also by customers who became friends after 50 years. He instilled working hard for a living in his children by working from the age of 16 to 83. When asked why he was still working at 80, he told folks, “Because I like what I’m doing.” He sold the business at age 80 to his grandson Cole. Bob was proud that his legacy continued.
Bob found his faith and strength in nature, watching deer and turkeys out of his office window on the farm, sitting in a camo shelter with Buddy Bob, waiting for the biggest gobbler to come. Elk hunting on a mountaintop, sitting in a deer stand, walking his woodlands, or riding in the country looking for animal signs were some of his favorite things to do.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Lucy Sherwood; his children, Russell Sherwood (Laura Callahan) of Oakdale, Rodney (Janet) Sherwood of Tomah, Rhonda (Arlen) Simonson of Wilton, and Robbin (Sean) Casey of Illinois; his grandchildren, Candace (Casey) Chambers, Cole Sherwood, Alyssa Sherwood, Asher Sherwood, Hans (Kate) Simonson, Hillary Johnson, Dalton (Carrie) Simonson, Daniel (Ashlyn) Simonson, Morgan Casey, and Megan Casey; his great-grandchildren, Nevaeh, Tahj, Trinity, Trista, Keegan, Bailee, Sawyer, Wyatt, Charlee, Memphis, Hayden, and Adalyn; his sisters, Rosy Sieg and Lori (Raymond) Allen; his brother, Wayne (Sharon) Christensen; his brother-in-law, David (Sandy) Noth; his aunt, Helen Cole; and nieces, nephews, cousins, and many more family and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his mother, Edna, and his stepfather, Charlie Christensen; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Corliss and Erma Noth; his son, Roger Sherwood; his sister, Ruth Keach; his brother, Bruce Christensen; and his brother- and sister-in-law, Doug and Carol Nevin.
A celebration of life will be from 2–5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, at the Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post 201, 800 Wisconsin Ave., Tomah, Wis. Memories will be shared at 2:30 p.m., led by Jim Hayward.
Online condolences may be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com. The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial be given to the Tomah Hospice Touch, Serenity House, 601 Straw St., Tomah, WI 54660, or a wildlife charity of your choice.
