Robert D. Johnejack

Johnejack, Robert D.

Bob was reunited in heaven with his wife, Margaret, of 47 years on August 26, 2018 at the age of 94. He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Carolyn.
He was born in Kenosha, WI in 1924 to European immigrants. He grew up in Lake Geneva, WI with his brother and sister. He enjoyed a childhood wandering through the woods with his dog, Sport, and spending time at the lake. As a teenager, he worked at a soda shop where he learned to make malts. Fortunately, he passed this important skill on to his kids. He also enjoyed catching music at the Riviera on the lakeshore, and enjoyed hearing the late, great Louis Armstrong.
He was drafted into the Army and went to Princeton University for a semester with the Armed Services Training Program. Here he would occasionally see a disheveled Albert Einstein walking down the street. He served honorably during World War II in Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. He received two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with Valor.
After the war, he returned to Lake Geneva. He spent time working in Chicago and going to engineering school in Madison. While in Lake Geneva, he met Margaret Brux, the second grade teacher of his nephew, Jack. After courting, Bob and Marge were married in 1953. He started working at the Parker Pen Company in Janesville, WI in xxxx. He spent 32 years designing pens and eventually became the Chief Drafting Design Engineer.
Family life included two houses in Janesville, one to live in and the neighboring Victorian to rent. Bob and Marge wanted a family project, so they and their growing children spent many years scraping, patching, painting, cleaning, shoveling, planting, plumbing, managing the business and otherwise living the value of hard work and teamwork.
Also important to Bob and Marge was education, not just through school, but also through traveling, camping, canoeing and backpacking. They took their family many places in the US and Canada and provided many challenging, enlightening, fun and sometimes, scary experiences. Bob has been to the top of mountains and to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and he reveled in each adventure.
Bob was a faithful member of Wisconsin Synod Lutheran churches and a dedicated leader of the Lutheran Boy Pioneers. He took many groups of boys (and girls with Marge) on outdoor adventures in Wisconsin and in the Rocky Mountains.
Bob and Marge retired in 1990 to Bella Vista, Arkansas where they spent 10 years happily making new friends and exploring new territory. They continued to travel, visiting Europe, new places in the US, and their children in far flung parts of the country. Their three grandchildren, Rudy, David and Heidi were born, and Bob became GP3 (Grandpa Number 3) to Marie. Bob and Marge returned to Wisconsin in 2000 to be near their two daughters. Margaret died in 2001 of cancer.
Bob married Carolyn in 2003. They bought a house in Milwaukee and have lived here happily for 15 years. He became Grandpa to Carolyn’s grandchildren and spent many happy times with his new family.
Bob was a loving and fun husband and father. He was an adventurer, world traveler, camper and fisherman. He was a hard worker and an avid reader. He was kind, happy and loving. His big smile and his quick, witty sense of humor will be missed.
He is the Father of Donna (Wayne) Stollenwerk, Kent (Rocio Estrella), Gail (Mark Hummel), and Paul. He is stepfather to Jason (Kristi) Balge, Luke (Lisa) Balge, and Matthew (Jennifer) Balge. His Grandchildren are Rudy, Heidi, David, Marie (Rey), Nicholas, Sara, Benjamin, Samuel, Ana, Lily, Faye, Morgan, Carter, and Quinn. His great-granchildren are Kyra, Liam, and Logan.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 2, 2018 from 1-3 pm at Fairview Lutheran Church, 137 N. 66th St, Milwaukee followed by the funeral service at 3 pm. The interment will be on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at 10 am, at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lake Geneva, WI.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Fairview Ev. Lutheran Church appreciated.