Robert B Hermanson
November 04, 1949 - March 22, 2020
Obituary
MADISON-Robert “Hermie” Hermanson, age 70, passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2020. Hermie and his wife Jan (Doll as he affectionately called her) were married 36 years ago in Las Vegas, with an entourage of about 26 friends.
Hermie went to college at Oshkosh for about a year before working for Financial Service Co. and then became a Vice President at R.W. Baird as a stockbroker from 1975 until joining Stifel Nicolaus as a VP in 2004, where he retired in 2016.
Hermie was always the life of the party with his many jokes and antics. He loved to travel by train and planned many trips around the country with his "Amtrak Outlaw" buddies. For many years he was Santa Claus on Christmas Eve for many friends and family, and always came home with lots of gifts of beer. Hermie donated 65 teddy bears to the UW Children's Hospital at Christmas time for many years and this tradition will continue in his honor.
Hermie loved his Budweiser, playing cards, fishing, hunting and watching and betting on sports, dog racing and owning Greyhounds, and doing crossword puzzles, but cheating on the answers. Hermie received his private pilot's license in 1984. He was a good pilot, and many friends and family enjoyed trips with him around the country. He was a member of the Elks Club.
Hermie is survived by his wife, Jan; son, Robert II of Boulder, Colo.; brother, Michael (Bonnie) Hermanson of Berlin, Wis., their children, Heather and Brett (Kristen) Hermanson, and their children, Bryn and Keean of Berlin, Wis.; stepchildren, Pamela Sawyer of Deforest, Wis., and David (Tina) Savoy of Oregon, Wis.; granddaughter, Kayla Sawyer of Deforest; and many in-laws and nieces and nephews who loved him.
A Celebration of Hermie’s Life will be held at WILSON’S BAR & GRILL, 2144 Atwood Ave., Madison, on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at 1 p.m. Spread the word and come and share your many stories of Hermie’s antics.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420
Events
Celebration of Life
Sat Aug 28, 2021 @ 1:00 PM CDT
Wilson's Bar & Grill • 2144 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI 53704
Photos
Memories
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Bob Wharton and Pattie Sartori-Wharton
Other •
I have had many experiences with Herm over the years including Brewer trips to Milwaukee, Amtrak Outlaw train trip to Philadelphia and Florida spring baseball excursions (with Don Bruns, Bob Hickman, Lynn Poole and a few others). He had a great zest for life and loved to make people laugh and giggle. What I loved most about Bob, beyond all the jokes and pranks, was that he also had a heart of gold evidenced by his Santa Claus routines and teddy bear gifts to the Childrens Hospital. He was a good friend and we share your sorrow at this difficult time. We want to extend our deepest sympathy to Jan and to the entire Hermanson family. Bob Wharton and Pattie Sartori-Wharton
B(
Brianna Chaves (Muth)
Other •
Growing up next door to Hermie left me with many cherished memories. He always called me his "little B" and was Santa Claus for many years when I was a little girl. I remember lighting off fireworks in his backyard with many of our neighbors, and to this day just walking into his home from the back door unannounced or just hanging out on the patio while he drank his Budweiser. I especially remember during my teen years I would be outside in my backyard jumping on the trampoline with friends, and Hermie would come outside and play his favorite summer song on his boom box whole singing quite loudly "Hello door..... hello wall.... Hello ceiling...". Just bellowing it out for my friends and I, and we would join in and sing along. Hermie was an additional and honorary Grandpa to me, and had a major impact on my childhood and young adult life. My last memory of Hermie was just a few weeks ago, when I showed up again, unannounced walking in through his back door to his den, to introduce him to my baby son. I am so very glad they got to meet.
MS
Mary L Sprague
Other •
So sad to see this. Hermit was such a good guy to my husband Jesse Sprague when he was struggling with a brain tumor. I remember him showing up with a cab driver bringing an order of crab legs from the Avenue Bar to Jesse’s delight. Also a member of the Amtrak Outlaws, Jesse had many stories of the groups antics usually initiated by Hermie, even though there was a cone of silence.
You have my sympathies dearest Doll, of a wonderful man who has left us.
MA
Merry Hermanson Anderson
Other •
So sad to learn of cousin Bobby’s passing. He was a true Hermanson full of laughs and wicked humor. I remember many Christmases with Mick, Bob and Aunt Dorothy. I look at this picture and see the same grin and “looking for mischief” twinkle in his eyes I knew when we were kids. His mom and dad will welcome him.
DB
Denny Burke
Other •
It was maybe the early 80s. Don had located his annual Al Boon party at a park on the east side. Kids were everywhere. My two daughters stood with their jaws dropped open as Hermie climbed inside an old aluminum garbage can and proceeded to roll down a steep hill. They had never seen anything like it before, or since. When I told my daughter Amy that Hermie had died, she wrote me, “If there’s a heaven that dude’s rolling down the hill at a party right now.” No one else quite like the man. The world’s a little less fun than it used to be.
JH
Jon Hermanson
Other •
Cousin Bobby will be missed. Growing with him was a challenge. He was great all round athlete..one of the best catchers ever in Columbus American Legion Baseball at the time. It was hard to follow in his footsteps. His laugh was contagious. His smile was his gift. Heaven is going to be one large party!