Robert W Westerman

Robert W. Bob Westerman Sr., 82, of La Crosse, passed away at his home on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

He was born in Winona, Minn., on September 3, 1929, to Wayne and Ruth (Stinson) Westerman. He attended Winona area schools and graduated from Winona High School in 1947. On June 18, 1955, he married Genevieve Jenny Meseberg at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Wilton, Wis.

Bob served in the U.S. Navy Reserves from 1947-1951 before serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a life-time member of Thomas Rooney V.F.W. Post 1530 of La Crosse. Bob was employed by Trane Company in La Crosse for 30 years before retiring in 1989, and was a member of the Trane Company 25 Year Club. Bob was also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1920 of La Crosse.

The Westerman family enjoyed many week-end camping trips with friends at Hatfield and other surrounding campgrounds. In his earlier years, Bob enjoyed watching his sons participate in school sports and was also active in dog training and competing in many dog trials where he and his son, Bill, won many trophies.

Bob will be dearly missed; he was truly a special person to all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Jenny; two sons, Robert Jr. (Terri) of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and William (girlfriend, Danielle) of La Crosse; three grandchildren, Robert III, Ana, and Tyler; two step grandchildren, Kayla and Joey; and one step great granddaughter, Leyana, all of Cedar Falls; sisters-in-law, Darlene (Paul) Babbitt of Wilton, Wis., Elaine (Jack) McKee of La Crosse, and Carol Ann (Richard) Brandau of Holmen; a brother-in-law, James Meseberg of Union Grove, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister and brother-in-law, Betty Jane and Wallace Voss; in-laws, Vernon and Phoebe Meseberg; and sisters-in-law, Carol and Cathy Meseberg.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, February 21thstth, at 10:30 a.m., at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Rev. David Olson will officiate. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends may call at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, 200 West Ave. So., La Crosse, on Monday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., where a rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m., and at the church on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials may be directed to the Salvation Army, Blessed Sacrament Parish, or the charity of the donors choice.