Post Messenger Recorder -

Robert Willard "Bob" Stillman, age 98, passed away on Sunday, December 27, 2015, at the New Glarus Home. He was born on August 7, 1917, in East Ellsworth, WI, to his parents, Willard I. and Georgia A. Stillman.

Bob attended Ellsworth schools and then graduated from River Falls High School in 1935. He worked as a mechanic at a Chevy garage and drove truck for Co-Op Laundry. Bob then joined the Wisconsin National Guard and was assigned to drive a truck to the East Coast, and was inducted to Federal Service in 1940. He served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Eastern Theater, and then Italy for two years in the 985th Field Artillery, where he was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat. After World War II, he worked as a mechanic for Madison Bus Company and then returned to truck driving and retired after twenty-two years of service with C.W. Transport.

On June 5, 1948, he was united in marriage to Ruth Lien. After his retirement from driving truck, he worked for his brother-in-law, Ole Lien, on the farm, fulfilling his dream to be a farmer. He was a longtime member of the American Legion and had served as Commander of the Post 160 in Brooklyn, WI, and then, after retiring to New Glarus, became a member of the Stuessy-Kuenzi American Legion Post #141.

Bob is survived by his children, Patricia Evans of Oracle, AZ, Robert (Ellen) Stillman of Green Bay, WI, and Jayne (James) Campbell of Belleville, WI; grandchildren, Curtis Grueneberg, Wendy Burtness, Brian Stillman, Erin Stillman, Preston Campbell, and Nikole Campbell; great-grandchildren, Sarah (Yong) Sim, Dustin Wismer, and Andre Long; and great-great-grandchildren, Blake and Brielle Sim. He is further survived by Ruth's siblings, Ardell (Barb) Lien, Clair (Joanne) Lien, Inga Hanson, Gudrun (Delbert) Kundert, Gunvar Haesler and Alice Voegeli.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruth; son-in-law, James Evans; brother, Roger; sisters, Margaret and Marilyn; sisters-in-law, Marie Henning, Olga Ommodt, Elaine Lien; and brothers-in-law, Ole Lien, Raymond Hanson, William Haesler, Howard Voegeli, and Bernard Ommodt.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, December 31, 2015, at the First United Church of Christ, 130 E. Church St., Belleville, WI, with the Rev. Heide Walker Hackman officiating with burial in the Belleville Cemetery, with full military honors.

Relatives and friends called from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home, 109 Greenway Cross, Belleville, WI.

Memorials are suggested to the First United Church of Christ.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at bealfuneralhomes.com.