"Love is patient, love is kind. Love never fails." This is a perfect description of Bob Showalter, son of the late Carl and Helen (Brown) Showalter, husband of Carol (Fitz-Gibbon) Showalter, father of Michael (Amber) of Wisconsin Dells and Brady (Connie) of McFarland, grandfather of Taylor, Daniel, Noah and Grace. He lived these words as a teacher, coach of basketball, baseball and tennis, lifeguard, elementary, middle school and high school administrator, resort and antique shop/Museum of Norman Rockwell Art owner, basketball player (well, maybe not so kind as a basketball player...), friend.

A Memorial Mass was held on Saturday, September 23, 2017, at 2: 00 p.m., at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Wisconsin Dells, with Father Eric Sternberg celebrating. Visitation was at the church from 12:00 Noon until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. Military honors were provided by the Harold B. Larkin American Legion Post #187 of Wisconsin Dells.

Bob was born October 5, 1930, in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in what he considered an idyllic childhood in Columbus, Chicago, and Logansport, Indiana, moving around as his father worked for the railroad.  Bob's love of sports, especially basketball, began at an early age and continued through high school and even into the Army, where he served honorably in Germany, mostly on the basketball court, entertaining troops. During this time both of his parents passed away; gone was the plan to open a sporting goods store with his father after he was discharged. Instead, an Army basketball buddy drove from Indiana to Columbus to talk him into leaving his factory job to enroll at Vincennes University (Ind.) and play with the VU Trailblazers.  They had a start-up program and needed good players; "Big Bob" became the starting center on what became a nationally top-ranked basketball team, which for many weeks was the only unbeaten college team in basketball-crazy Indiana. These players stayed close through the years. Next he went to Kent State University in Ohio, where he played basketball and earned the Phi Epsilon Kappa Award for the senior athlete with the highest academic achievement.

As he graduated in December, Bob felt fortunate to find a teaching job in Lakewood, Ohio, though it was in elementary schools rather than upper grades. But that's where he met second grade teacher, Carol Fitz-Gibbon, and they were married within a year and would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in November.  They moved to West Covina, California, where Bob taught, coached basketball, baseball and tennis and served as a counselor and athletic director at Baldwin Park High School, then was an administrator of the Neighborhood Youth Corps in La Puente. His main leisure sports then were tennis and ping pong with Carol's brothers.  With the addition of Michael, Bob decided to further his education, earning a Master's Degree at Pasadena College in Pasadena, California. After six years, the family moved back to the midwest, as they missed the change of seasons and style of life. They settled in beautiful New Glarus, Wisconsin, where Bob was middle school/high school principal for ten years. Son Brady joined the family during this time.  And the sport of choice was golf (two holes in one!) with his good golf buddies at Edelweiss Country Club. 

Then the lure of being on water led them to purchase the Lake Shore Resort on Lake Delton, and Bob began administrative duties in Adams-Friendship.  Owning and operating Chapel Antiques and a museum of Norman Rockwell art kept life interesting (loved those auctions!). No time for golf in the summer, so took up indoor tennis at Tamarack with his good tennis buddies.  In 1993, he retired.  Yes, he enjoyed twenty-four years of retirement: scavenging for antiques, RV trips across the country, settling in their little tin house in North Fort Myers in the winters, foreign trips, enjoying home on the river, four sensational grandchildren, following the Packers, Badgers and Roger Federer, reading and crossword puzzles. He was active in St. Cecilia Church and the American Legion.

Life was good! And Bob was content with his life and felt blessed right up to his last breath, taken on a bed set up in his living room, overlooking the river. Special thanks to Dr. Maureen Murphy, the many Home Health United personnel, and our St. Cecilia family, who have been so wise, helpful and compassionate through the years.

If desired, memorials may be made to St. Cecilia Church.

The Picha Funeral Home and Crematory of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, assisted the family with arrangements. For online condolences and information, go to http://www.pichafuneralhome.com.

608-253-7884