Robert Odell

Odell, Robert Carlyle\r\n MADISON-Robert C. \"Bob\" Odell passed away peacefully on Monday, Sept.21, 2009, at age 91. He was born in Baltimore, Md., on Nov. 29, 1917, the first child of Carlyle Dixon and Lydia Rebecca Neepier Odell. Bob settled in New Berlin, where he raised his family and was an active member of Forest Park Presbyterian Church for nearly 50 years. He and his wife, Dorothy, led church youth groups and interdenominational family camps for many years. Bob graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B. S. degree in electrical engineering. He worked at Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. in West Allis for 40 years, retiring in 1982. Bob was awarded a number of U. S. patents in the field of electrical product manufacturing. During World War II, he served the war effort by working on the U. S. Government Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tenn. In his retirement years, Bob provided consulting services in the field of transformer failure analysis and he volunteered with a non-profit small business development organization. His interests included tracing family genealogy, travel, woodworking and supporting the pursuits of his children and grandchildren. Bob moved to Madison in 2000, where he joined Memorial United Church of Christ in Fitchburg. Bob was the beloved husband of Dorothy nee Kleist for 60 years; dear father of Paul (Nancy) Odell of Riverwoods, Ill., Brent (Ruth) Odell of McFarland, and Edie (Jim) Devine of Fitchburg; loving grandfather of Kristin (Darin) Pape of Prairie du Sac, Scott and David Odell of Madison, Andrea (Adam) Kling of Del Rio, Texas, and Ben Devine of Madison; and loving great-grandfather of Jacob and Ashley Pape. He is also survived by his dear sister, Evelyn (Linus) Klitsch of Gaithersburg, Md; numerous nieces and nephews; and his cousin, Jane Bickel of White Marsh, Md. Preceding Bob in death were his wife, Dorothy; and his brothers, Marshall and Charles. Funeral services will be held at MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 5705 W. Lacy Road, Fitchburg, at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, with the Rev. Phil Haslanger presiding. Burial will be at Highland Memorial Park, New Berlin, at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, and at the church from 11:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. Our father and grandfather was a good man, a gentleman, kind and smart, and mindful of those who were in need, whether they be neighbors or persons in a far away land. Thank you for guiding us with your gentle hand and loving us with your giving spirit. \"Spirituality encompasses everything; therefore, it includes human character, too. To have a good character is to have honesty, simplicity, spontaneity, absence of anger and pride. When an ordinary human being possesses all these qualities, we call him a man of good character.\" -Sri Chinmoy\r\n Gunderson EastFuneral & Cremation Centers5203 Monona Drive(608) 221-5420www.gundersonfh.com\r\n \r\n Cemetery: Burial will be at Highland Memorial Park, New Berlin, at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Visitation: Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, and at the church from 11:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. Service: Funeral services will be held at MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 5705 W. Lacy Road, Fitchburg, at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, with the Rev. Phil Haslanger presiding.