Robert John "Bob" Aylesworth Sr.

RHINELANDER - Robert John “Bob” Aylesworth Sr., age 89, of Rhinelander, passed away on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. He was born on Jan. 26, 1932, in Devils Lake, N.D., the son of Clayton and Gertrude (Engan) Aylesworth. Bob graduated from Devils Lake High School in North Dakota in 1950 and from Oshkosh Teachers College. He married Audrey Bunkowski on Sept. 8, 1951, in Devils Lake. Bob worked as a civil servant for the University of Wisconsin, retiring in 1995. For the last 20 years of his career, he helped students at the UW-Pharmacy School. He was affectionately known as “Beaker Bob.” He was involved in UW- Madison’s research with the drug, Levodopa, used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Bob was a friendly person and loved talking with people. He and his wife shared a green thumb for growing fruit and vegetables. Throughout his life, Bob loved playing table tennis and also traveling to central Minnesota to go fishing. He had always shown interest in the U.S. Presidential history. A highlight for Bob was meeting John F. Kennedy in person during college in Oshkosh. Robert is survived by his two sons, Robert John (Sue) Aylesworth Jr., M.D., and Mark Richard (Mary Ann) Aylesworth; sister, Mary (David Haugen) Roed; grandchildren, Rebecca Aylesworth, Brett Aylesworth, Paul (Sara Ansell) Aylesworth, and Laura (Joshua Brown) Aylesworth; great-grandchildren, Sophia Paulson, Lorelai Aylesworth, Alaina Aylesworth, Ruby Aylesworth and Fern Aylesworth; sister-in-law, Cheryl Graves; and brother-in-law, Don Graves. He was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey; parents; and sister, Jane Aylesworth. A funeral service will be held at PEOPLE’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 103 North Alpine Parkway, Oregon, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson Fitchburg Funeral & Cremation Care 2950 Chapel Valley Road (608) 442-5002