Robert Elmer Smith

MADISON - Robert E. “Bob” Smith, age 89, died on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Madison. He was born on Jan. 21, 1935, in Freedom, Wis., the oldest of seven children born to Elmer and Dorothy (Van Hoof) Smith.

Bob attended St. Nicholas Grade School in Freedom, Wis., high school and junior college at St. Lawrence Seminary, Mount Calvary, Wis., followed by two years of college and four years of theology at the St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.

He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Green Bay in 1961 and served at Sacred Heart Parish in Appleton, Wis., for six years. In that time period he helped found an inter-faith clergy association. Bob transitioned to work in Chicago with the Federal Poverty Program, followed by a career in insurance with Aetna Life & Casualty in Appleton. He then received a master’s degree in clinical social work from UW-Madison and started 27 years as a therapist in private practice in Madison, working with his wife, Ingeborg Casey, Ph.D. They retired on Nov. 1, 2007.

In Appleton, Bob was proud of his involvement in a national program for public high school students from minority communities across the U.S., Appleton's A Better Chance Program (ABC of Appleton). Appleton's program was established in 1968 under the auspices of Lawrence University in which students attended public high schools in Appleton. Bob served on its board, including time as its president. The program continues to the present day.

Athletics and physical activities were always a large part of Bob's life. Aging directed his involvement from basketball, football, tennis, golf, skiing and racquetball to biking, hiking, dancing, working out at the Y and gardening. Travels in Europe and the U.S. often included hiking and biking. And these ventures also provided him with photo opportunities, so much so, that younger relatives referred to him as "Snapshot Bob." His slide shows were memorable. But he also digitized old photos of family events and shared them with family members.

Family gatherings and family history were very important for Bob. He provided a history of the Smith family for a book, “Town of Freedom, Outagmie County, Wisconsin: 1852-2002,” and a history on CDs of his mother's ancestors, the Van Hoofs. His hand drawn genealogical charts illustrated his Smith and Van Hoof heritage.

Bob's marriage to Ingeborg Casey provided Bob with an instant family. Her twin sons, Brian and Evan Casey, were age 7 when Bob became their step-father. Their spouses and children added many joys to Bob's life and these grandchildren became the focus of his attention throughout his life. Subsequent to Ingeborg's death in 2011, Bob also found loving support and companionship from his partner, Shirley Fagan.

Bob is survived by Brian and Shelly (Bunbury) Casey; Evan Casey; and five grandchildren, Quinn, Shea, Cade, Claire and Ethan Casey.

A memorial service will be held at HOLY WISDOM MONESTARY, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, followed by a light luncheon at Holy Wisdom. Visitation will be at Holy Wisdom from 2:30 p.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.

Memorials in memory of Bob may be made to the Benedictine Life Foundation of Wisconsin to support the ministries of the Benedictine Women of Madison at Holy Wisdom Monastery. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761