Robert L. Althaus

Robert L. Althaus was never happier than when he had a good martini in hand and good friends around his table. And once you were at that table, you were family—with all the raucous conversation and laughter that went along with it.

Bob was called home on March 1, 2017, the culmination of 91 years of exuberant living that brought real joy to all who were lucky enough to participate.

Born in Chicago, IL, on April 28, 1925, he was the son of the late Robert and Martha (Pins) Althaus. He began his education at St. Jerome’s School and moved on to Quigley Preparatory Seminary of downtown Chicago for high school. After he was politely encouraged to vacate the school for using inappropriate language towards a Christian Brother, Bob transferred to St. George High School, the school from which he would eventually graduate. While at St. George he discovered a real talent for basketball and quickly became a star of the team. Bob never missed an opportunity to share how his team won the City of Chicago Championship in his senior year.

Following high school, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy—and if you knew Bob, you knew how proudly he remembered his service to our country. He chose the Navy because, as he said, “If I’m going to serve, I want to at least be assured of a warm bed and three squares a day.” In the first two years of his deployment, he served as a Captain’s Talker aboard the Destroyer John S. Wilk, while his final two years in the service were spent traveling the country playing basketball with the U.S. Naval Team. He was honorably discharged on October 25, 1946.

Following his military career, Bob attended Loyola University-Lakeshore Campus, where he earned his BS in Business. After several years of drinking beer and “Raising Cain”, he was lucky enough to have a blind date with one Mary H. Hodgins, the woman who would become the greatest love of his life. Although Mary’s family made it perfectly clear that they would not permit her to marry a “bum,” they were soon convinced of his merit, and Bob and Mary were married on November 4, 1950, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Des Plaines, IL. After 56 years of marriage, Mary preceded him in death on February 14, 2006.

He began a distinguished career in sales with the Burrows Corp and eventually relocated his family to Kenosha, WI, where he worked for Moore Business Forms, Inc., a partnership that would last well over thirty years.

Bob took great pride in giving back to both church and community. He and Mary were active members of St. Mary Catholic Church. In his younger years he served as the co-chairman of the annual clothing drive for St. Vincent De Paul Society. Also, Bob will be remembered for coaching St. Mary’s 7^th and 8^th grade CYO basketball; he helped to shape the lives of many young men. St. Joseph High School held a special place in Bob’s heart—he and Mary sent all seven children through school there—and he served as a charter member of its Men’s Athletic Association. Bob and Mary were honored with the St. Joseph Award in 1978.

Bob leaves a legacy in his six children, Richard (Susan), James (Patricia), Mary (Bruce) Roders, William, Ann (Scott) Carney, and Timothy (Diane Hart) Althaus; his daughter-in-law, Tara Althaus; his ten grandchildren; and two great granddaughters.

He is further survived by his sister, Marlene Krasinski; and his loving nieces and nephew.

In addition to his parents and wife, Mary, Bob was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Althaus; and a daughter-in-law, Cynthia Althaus.

The Althaus family will forever be grateful to the entire staff of the 2200 Wing of United Hospital System – St. Catherine’s Campus for the tenderness shown to Bob in his final days.

You are my sunshine,

My only sunshine.

You make me happy when skies are gray.

You’ll never know, dear,

How much I love you.

Please don’t take my sunshine away.