Post Messenger Recorder -

Robert H. Beckwith, age 79 of New Glarus, passed away on Monday, November 23, 2015, at Agrace HospiceCare, Inc. in Fitchburg. He was born the son of Oral and Jesse Beckwith on October 16, 1936, at the Hefty-Blum Homestead.

Bob was baptized, confirmed, and married at the Swiss United Church of Christ in New Glarus. On October 16, 1955, he was united in marriage to Mae Heimann. Early in his working years he bought two milk routes, hauling can milk from the farms to market. As a can milk hauler Bob not only had to lift every can into the truck bed, but then also "double deck" cans in a rack above the floor. In 1958 he started the first "Grade B" bulk route in the area. Now the milk was pumped into a bulk tank and hauled to Belleville. Later he worked at Gisholt Foundry, which later became Giddings & Lewis in Madison, for almost 20 years. Bob completed his working years at Federal Industries in Belleville.

Mae and Bob also opened their home to two mentally challenged individuals and lovingly cared for them for over 14 years.

In his younger years Bob loved to hunt, fish, trap, and do mechanical work on cars. In his later years he kept busy in the summer selling night crawlers and tending his garden. In winter he made sure the birds and squirrels always had food.

Bob is survived by his wife, Mae; sons, Robert (Deana), William (Terri Yaun), Bruce (Janet), John (Stephanie); daughters, Ann (Kelvin) Klassy, Brenda (Bernard) Kela, Vicki (Russell) Swiggum; twelve grandchildren, Maria Hillyer, Jessica (Kevin) Geib, Brooke and Kyle Klassy, Jeremy Swiggum, Ryan, Stephanie, Brett, Viktoria, Bruce, Kelsey, and Dylan Beckwith; inherited grandchildren, Emily and Jenna Folstad, Matthew Halverson, Arsene and Senes Kela. He was also "Papa" to two very special great-granddaughters, Amelia Geib and Emma Hillyer; and inherited great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Kela. He is further survived by a sister, Esther Norderhaug.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Raymond, Raphael, Howard, Delmer, Bernard, and Jess; a sister, Dorothy; and daughter-in-law, Cathie Beckwith.

To honor Bob's request there will be no funeral service. There was a gathering of relatives and friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., on Saturday, November 28, 2015, at the Swiss United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, 18 Fifth Avenue, New Glarus, WI. A light lunch will be served, along with Bob's favorite food - Limburger cheese.

A memorial fund has been established.

The Zentner-Beal Funeral Home of New Glarus is assisting the family.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com.