Robert E. Rottman
January 26, 1948 - May 05, 2024
Obituary
FITCHBURG - Robert Rottman liked to fix things. He liked to make things work. Whether it was a malfunctioning appliance, cracked crockery, a balky computer, or home maintenance, Robert strove to make it right. Robert kept his cars running, computers humming, and wind-up clocks ticking. Sadly, no one could fix his lungs. After 25 years of fighting against granulomatosis with polyangitis (Wegener's), he died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his bereft family, on May 5, 2024, at Meriter Hospital in Madison, WI.
Robert Emmett Rottman was born on Jan. 26, 1948, in Milwaukee, WI, the eldest child of Gilbert J. and Frances Quirk Rottman. He graduated from Whitefish Bay High School and entered the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1966. He rowed bow on the UW Crew team and completed Navy ROTC. Robert graduated in 1971 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned into the U.S. Navy. He later earned an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. Robert worked on the manufacturing side of the health care industry in Chicago and Aurora, IL, and Urbana and Columbus, OH.
His wife Barbara has been by his side since the third day of Freshman Orientation Week. They were married on May 29, 1971, and have resided in Fitchburg since 2008. Robert is survived by his wife, Barbara; son, Ben (Shelli née Chawla); granddaughter, Malaika; brother, Philip; and much-loved nieces and nephews. His parents; stepmother, Emma; and sister, Mary Weir; stepsister, Sandy (Loppnow) Steeples; and stepbrother, John Loppnow preceded him in death.
A celebration of Robert's life will be held at FOUR WINDS FARM, 5735 Adams Road, Fitchburg, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2024.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank, the Friends of Fitchburg Senior Center or the Vasculitis Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Fitchburg
Funeral & Cremation Care
2950 Chapel Valley Road
(608) 442-5002