Robert B Hermanson

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

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.

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.

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.

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.