Robert "Mac" D. McAloon

On Sunday, August 13, 2023, the good Lord welcomed Robert “Mac” McAloon to heaven where he was reunited with his beautiful wife and all of his cherished dogs. Bob, formerly of Sheboygan, resided in Appleton, Wisconsin, for the last five years.
Bob was born October 26, 1940, to William and Ada McAloon. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and his Masters Degree in Nuclear Physics at  Fisk University in Nashville.
Bob met his beloved, Delpha, a music teacher, at Urban Junior High School in Sheboygan. He had students deliver notes to her. His family knew she was “the one” when he gave her a pair of Sorel boots. They married in 1970 in the little chapel at Saint Luke United Methodist Church. He taught science for his entire career and also coached freshmen football when Urban was a junior high school. 
With a football scholarship, Bob was able to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. In 1961, after an undefeated season, his team beat University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 26-0, for the State College Championship. He proudly attended the 50th Anniversary celebration of this game in 2011. Whenever he met a new person one of his inevitable questions was “Did you play football?” 
Bob was an avid sportsman and enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors with his children. Interacting with nature inspired some of his family’s most memorable moments. One of his favorite lines, “should I poke it with a stick?”, led to an entire colony of bats swarming his daughter Amy and himself. Swimming in his favorite lake, Winnebago, led to a strep infection in Lori’s foot. He was so proud when Scott shot his first deer with the same gun he shot his first deer with. He also felt it was his duty to make his students appreciate nature with his infamous pine tree, insect and fungi identification tests. His dedication to wildlife and nature compelled him to participate in a long-term study measuring DDT and PCB levels in people who ate freshwater fish from Wisconsin waterways. (Please follow the fish consumption limits as advised by the DNR!)
Whether he was spending late nights on the raft watching cane poles or shooting the breeze at the vesper rail, the shack on the Wolf River was Bob’s second home. His dad built the shack where he and his brothers, Jim and Bill, spent countless hours fishing and hunting. Friends Harry and Red often joined the group. Now the children and grandchildren of these men continue to enjoy the many amenities the shack has to offer. 
Bob also was a member of Ducks Unlimited, Sturgeon for Tomorrow, and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation because he wanted to ensure that future generations could enjoy the wildlife of Wisconsin. He would volunteer at events to support these groups, and he never missed a banquet.
Bob is survived by brother Bill, his three children, listed in order of preference: Scott, Lori (Todd), and Amy (Robb). Three grandchildren: Maria, Casper, and Benjamin, who were blessed with his “driving while blind” four-wheeler rides, stories of all the dogs he had to shoot to put out of their misery, and detailed instructions on the fine art of cleaning a turtle. 
Bob outlived his wife Delpha, by one year, six months, and thirteen days, triumphant in the fact that he finally got to control the volume on the television. He was also preceded in death by his parents, William and Ada, and his brother, James.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Eagle Point and Eagle Court for their care. We thank Dr. Anderla, Dr. Turk, the wound care department, the emergency department, and the 8th floor staff at Appleton Medical Center for their care and support during dad’s most challenging days. We also want to thank his special friend, Pat, for always brightening his day. 
Please join us for an informal celebration of life in his honor on August 27, 2023, at Waverly Beach Bar & Grille in Menasha, from 1-4 pm.