Robert Lee Hyland

MIDDLETON – Robert L. Hyland, age 88, of Middleton, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, at Heartland Country Village.  He was born on Nov. 20, 1929, in Madison, the son of Charles and Eloera Hyland.  Bob graduated from Madison West High School, where he was active in athletics, winning the Wisconsin High School Archery Championship.  He honourably served in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany during the Korean War.  Bob married Kathryn Danner and started a family in Monona raising two sons.  He later married Joan Gragg adding six step-children to his family.  Bob began his career following in his Father’s footsteps working at CUNA Mutual Insurance.  He later worked as an estimator for Vogel Brothers Construction prior to his retirement and move to Mercer, Wis.  His lifelong dream was to buy some land and build a house in the woods in Northern Wisconsin.  Bob was able to realize that dream, along with his wonderful wife, Joan, building a retirement home on beautiful Oak Lake in Mercer.  Bob always appreciated his time outdoors teaching his sons to respectfully hunt and fish.  He often talked about how he would be able to hunt and fish every day now that he had his dream home in the North Woods.  The reality was he didn’t hunt or fish every day; in fact, he didn’t hardly hunt or fish at all.  But the fact that he could was what mattered the most.  Bob was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to many and will be missed.  Anyone who knew him would always say the same thing “He was a really great guy!!”  Bob is survived by his sons, Dan (Mary) Hyland and Steve “Sam” (Gaye) Hyland; four step-sons, Neil (Cathy) Gragg, David (Susan) Gragg, Joe (Carol) Gragg, and Tom (Kris) Gragg; two step-daughters, Linda Gragg and Donna (Byron) Mulder; 21 grandchildren, Leeann (Aaron) Katzfey, Amy Hyland, Kyle (Jenny) Hyland, Matt (Tiffany) Hyland, Neil (Kelli) Gragg, Brian Gragg, Mary Gragg, Jennifer Gragg, Jameey (Sara) Gragg, Gina (Roy) Guzman, Angela Gragg, Kristen Gragg, Bethany Gragg, Rachel Gragg, Ann Marie (Nick) Schmid, Jerry (Kim) Waldon, Sara Waldon, Brad Gragg, Alisha Gragg and Elizabeth Gragg; and 19 great-grandchildren, Shane, DeLaney, Marah, Brittney, Emily, Erin, Logan, Lauren, Gabrielle, Trey, Marcus, Lauren, Lilian, Evelyn, Elise, Lukas, Nina, Cameron and Connor.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Hyland; his parents, Charles and Eloera; step-mother, Frieda; brothers, Dick (Maria) and Charles; and sister, Alice (Ray).  A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2018.  Visitation will held at the funeral home from 3 p.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. The family would like to recognize the loving support over the years from Bob’s daughter-in-law, Mary, as well as the staffs of Heartland Country Village in Black Earth and Sienna Crest (Creekwood) in Waunakee for their many years of dedicated care of Bob. Online condolences may be made at www. Gundersonfh.com. Gunderson EastFuneral & Cremation Care5203 Monona Dr.(608) 221-5420