Robert Herbert Zuehlsdorf

Robert (Bob) Zuehlsdorf, 79, of Appleton, passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, September 12, 2023 from Parkinson's Disease at Carolina Manor.  He had been there for a little over two months. 

 

He was born on June 8, 1944, in Bonduel, the son of Herbert & Hazel (Toellner) Zuehlsdorf.

 

On September 11, 1965, he married Dianne Busch at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bonduel.  Together they raised two children, Katie & Andrew.  

 

Bob was baptized & confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church.  He attended St. Paul Lutheran School & Bonduel High School & graduated from MSOE in February 1967.  After graduation from MSOE, Bob went to work for Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, a utility where he served in Oshkosh, Green Bay & Stevens Point.   

 

In 1977, he took a job with Sentry Insurance.  While there, he held ten different jobs, being promoted on a regular basis.  With each promotion came more and more job responsibilities and the requirement to learn more and more about different aspects of facilities management.  The last job he held at Sentry was as its national facilities director in charge of all building operations throughout the United States.  He was traveling every other week so he decided that wasn't what he wanted to do so he looked for a new opportunity so he would be home for family. 

 

In 1985, he was named the Director of Buildings & Grounds for Wisconsin Rapids School District.  In 1989, Bob took a job with Kenosha Unified Schools as their Facilities Director & completed eight years with them.  In 1997, he took the Facilities & Operations job at Appleton Area School District & retired from AASD in 2016.

 

Bob enjoyed his family & watching his grandchildren play their sports or instruments, model railroading, flower gardening & being involved with church activities such as Bible study, holding positions in the church like chairman of the congregation, treasurer, worship assistant, Stephen Minister.  While living in Stevens Point, he taught Sunday School at St. Paul Lutheran Church & later was appointed Sunday School Superintendent.  He loved all his furry friends & leaves behind Tucker.

 

Bob is survived by his wife, Dianne, children, Katie (Dave) Wroblewski & Andrew, grandchildren Gavin (Casie) Wroblewski & Zenin Wroblewski, one brother & sister-in-law, John & (Kathy) Zuehlsdorf, two sisters-in-law, Donna (Ed) Sanders, JoAnn & (Mark) Bergsbaken & many nieces & nephews.

 

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, two sisters & brothers-in-law, Betty & Ken Tesch, Lynn Zuehlsdorf-Mack & Wilbur Mack. 

 

The family would like to thank the staff of Cherry Meadows, Carolina Manor & ThedaCare Hospice for the wonderful care provided to Bob.

 

A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 601 E. Glendale Avenue, Appleton, WI on Monday, September 25, 2023 at 11 am with visitation from 9-11 am.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Faith Lutheran Church to the Comfort Dog Ministry, Faith's Radio and Online Ministry, or Celebration Lutheran School.