Barbola Funeral Chapel

Robert A. Londowski

“We gonna have a funeral for the Buick?” “I don’t get dressed anymore. I just get up and put on my jogging bottoms. If I have to go somewhere and get dressed up, then I put on my overalls.”

“You know I’m 77. They call me Bob, Bobby, Bubba, Bob L. In fact, I label Bob L. on everything with a permanent black magic marker!” Robert Allen Londowski, age 77, of Berlin, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of August 31, 2023 with his family by his side. Bob L. was a dedicated husband, father, grandpa, neighbor, and friend. He would give the shirt off his back and would be willing to help anyone who needed it. He would also keep everyone accountable to return anything they would borrow from him.

Robert was born on May 2, 1946, to Frank and Georgianna (Cerney) Londowski in Cook County, Illinois. His parents divorced when he and his older brother were young and both his mother and father remarried. William “Bill” and Georgianna Schackow provided two more siblings for Bobby and his brother. On September 20, 1969, Robert married Sandra “Sandy/Toots” Neitzke, at St. John Lutheran Church in Berlin. He would remind us all that “Tootie packed my lunch for the first week I went to work. She doesn’t do my laundry, either.” For most of his adult life, Robert lived on Van Horn Street in Berlin until 2011 when he joined his family in establishing the Farm on Wall Street. Some of the best memories of his life were made there, including keeping his lawn and vegetable garden looking pristine and playing with his grandchildren.

Bob was a hard working blue-collar employee for over 40 years with the Berlin Foundry. He worked as a line loader and then moved on to the cleaning room. In his later years, he became a Foreman. While his day job wasn’t glamorous, he provided what he could for his family and rarely complained. Rides on the snowmobile in winter, ice fishing, or pulling his girls around in a wagon attached to the lawn tractor were fun days for Bob. Even the broken toe he sustained on his “day off of work” chasing his girls around the house was worth it. He often quoted George Strait saying, “We aren’t here for a long time, we’re here for a good time!”

On their first wedding anniversary in September 1970, Bob and Sandy welcomed their first daughter, Tammy. Less than a year later in September 1971, a second daughter, Jodi, was born and completed their family. His two girls were the pride and joy of his life! When his grandchildren, Sadie, Spencer, and Luna came along, Bob’s joy increased beyond measure. Bob’s favorite pastimes over the years include playing cribbage, going to the casinos, scratch off lottery tickets, being outdoors, fishing, pontoon boating on Green Lake with his family, gardening, mowing the lawn, hunting out west, assisting with deer processing, going to the cabin Up North with the boys, napping, a strong obsession to take out the garbage and recycling, and tending to his feline companions. Bob was a lifetime member of the Berlin Foundry’s Old Timer’s, Walleyes For Tomorrow, and St. John Lutheran Church in Berlin.

Not one to overstay his visit, Bob could be heard saying, “Sandy, let’s go!” after a few minutes. His phone calls were short as well, quickly ending after 20 seconds with, “I’m gonna go now.” As life went on, Bob experienced some medical conditions that slowed him down quite a bit. He always liked to stay busy and would be disappointed that he couldn’t do the things he had always done. However, you could still see him in the garden weeding with his favorite hoe or firing off his shotgun at an unwanted outdoor intruder.

Bob had a love of food! Banana cream pie, Lay’s potato chips, Hershey’s chocolate candy bars, Auntie’s doughnuts, and coffee with more milk than coffee. He especially loved Sandy’s meat and potato meals. “Where is the fat on these pork chops? You know, all the flavor is in the fat! It’s the best part of the pork chop. Don’t get me wrong, these are still good. Just remember for next time.”

Robert is survived by his wife, Sandy; two daughters, Tammy (Tony) Goettl and Jodi (Anthony) Ahlers; three grandchildren, Sadie Goettl, Spencer Goettl, and Luna Ahlers; sister, Patty (Kevin) Sedarski; and brother, Gary (Charlotte) Schackow. Bob L. is further survived by extended family Ronald “#2” and Penny Bahn, Nicole Bahn and Jason Perington, Michelle and Bob Palma (Emmie, Ryan, Eva), Lindsay and TJ Locklar (Etta), Taylor and Abby Bahn (Logan and Raegan), Richard “Dick” Neitzke and Susan Richardson, Bobby Klassa, Mel and Sandy Cerney, Pat and Peggy Seaman. He was also Uncle Bob to Jerry, Amy, Robert, Allan, and Cody. His special four-legged friend, Pole Cat, kept him company until the very end.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Georgianna and William Schackow and Frank and Edith Londowski; brother, Frank J. Londowski II; father and mother-in-law, Melvin and Marian Neitzke; and nephew, Frank J. Londowski III.

Robert, Bob, Bobby, Bubba, Bob L., Dad, Grandpa…it was an honor to have you as our very own. We love you and will miss you so very much. This is your BEST DAY EVER! “Don’t take any wooden nickels. And keep a stick on the ice.”

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at St. John Lutheran Church in Berlin. Funeral services will be held at 6:00 p.m., Rev. Robert Busse officiating. Interment will be in Nepeuskun Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin. Anyone wishing to send a sympathy card to the family, please mail to Robert Londowski, c/o Barbola Funeral Chapel, PO Box 201, Berlin, WI 54923.