Robert Barlow

Madison - Bob Barlow, age 79, passed away on Monday, December 22, 2008 at Oak Park Nursing Home following a short illness with lymphoma and many years with ALS. He was born on Sept 7, 1929 in Madison, the son of George and Margaret (Odegaard) Barlow. He grew up with a hard-working farming heritage. He attended the one room Heistand schoolhouse on Milwaukee St. He graduated from East High School in 1947. He joined the Marine Corp where he served from 1950 to 1954, during the Korean Conflict. He married Ruth Johnson on November 12, 1955 at Lake Edge United Church of Christ. He worked at W. T. Rogers/Newell, retiring in 1995 after 40 years. Bob was dedicated to 4-H and for many years served as a club leader and dorm superintendent at the Dane County Fair. In his quiet but firm way, he mentored many young people in the Dane County area. His character model helped to shape the volunteerism of his children with MDA, PTA, Coaching and Sunday School teaching. Initially experiencing ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease) in 1971, he fought a very valiant fight against this condition for many more years than is commonly expected. Many of you may recognize him as an MDA spokesman, as he spent many hours being interviewed about ALS. The tremendous support that he received from family and friends will never be forgotten. Bob was also a fan of the Packers and the Badgers. Bob is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ruthie, his children, Bob (Judy), Patty and Kathy, all of Madison; granddaughters Sarah (UW-Eau Claire) and Lauren (UW-Madison); siblings Don (Marjean) of Sun Prairie, Ken of Madison, Shirley (Chuck) Guitzkow of Oxford, RuthAnn (Bob) Foley of Winter and Joyce (Rick) Hoel of Cottage Grove, and Mary Ellen Libby of Sussex; sister-in-law Janet (Dick) Hamre of Fort Atkinson and brother-in-law Ken (Nan) Johnson of Schofield. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law Thomas and Ruth Johnson, sister-in-law Judy Barlow and brother-in-law Homer Libby. Funeral services will be held at Lake Edge United Church of Christ, 4200 Buckeye Road at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 27, 2008 with the Rev. Paul Shupe presiding. Burial will follow at Blooming Grove Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 26, 2008 at the Gunderson East Funeral Home, 5203 Monona Drive and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. The family would like to thank the Nursing Staff at St. Marys 5 Southwest and the staff at Oak Park Nursing Home for their kind attention, Dr. Mark Hansen (Dean East Clinic) and Dr. Benjamin Brooks for their personal and sensitive attentiveness to our familys needs. Pastor Paul Shupe has provided extraordinary spiritual support for Bob and his family. We also appreciate all who have given their support to our family over the years.