Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 70 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Robert Smith
Robert Smith, 78, of rural Osseo, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Saturday afternoon, May 7, 2022. The family was assisted with his care by St. Croix Hospice.
Robert Allen Smith, son of Kenneth and Viola (Borgwardt) Smith, was born August 23, 1943, in Black River Falls, WI. He was raised in Augusta, until moving with his family in 1950 to Delafield, WI.
Bob started rural country school in the Coon Fork area and then attended high school in Waukesha. During the summers, the family often returned to their land in Coon Fork to spend weekends and visit family.
After his education, he worked as a welder in Waukesha, and also drove waste management trucks for a time. For several years, while still in Waukesha, he was employed by Leppin Drywall Corporation hanging drywall.
Bob was united in marriage to his soul mate, Mary Rose McNulty on November 12, 1971, in Denver, CO. To this union their 2 children were born. The couple lived in Aurora, CO, before returning to Wisconsin, first to the city of Osseo, and since 1975 they have resided at their current residence in the Levis area of Garfield Township, rural Osseo.
For a time after returning to Wisconsin, Bob hung drywall for Lewis Drywall out of Black River Falls. His career then changed paths and he started hauling cattle for Dale Randall, in addition to operating his own dairy farm with the help of his family. He eventually drove as an independent semi truck driver, and then drove with Silent Thunder/Shilling Trucking. When Bob finally retired, he was hauling for J.B. Haulers of Osseo.
Both Bob and Mary owned horses since they were teenagers. Together they bred, raised, and showed Percheron draft horses locally, and at many county and state fairs. Over the years, they attended many area parades with their wagons and Percheron teams.
One of Bob’s favorite memories was showing at the Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri State fairs, with the help of family and friends, including Sid & Shirley Post. There were ten people, ten horses, and 10 days of travel and showing. Hitching horses nine nights of the ten days.
A highlight in his life was being invited to the The Big Top Parade in Baraboo, WI. They had the honor and privilege to pull one of the restored circus wagons from the Baraboo Circus Museum with his 6 horse Percheron hitch.
Another pastime that Bob and Mary had in common was their love of motorcycle riding. They were proud riders of their various Harley Davidson cycles that they acquired along the way. The couple also enjoyed traveling out west to visit family and friends. For their 25th.Wedding Anniversary, they had the opportunity to spend a month touring Australia, visiting their high school friend, Shannon, who lives in Victoria.
Bob will be dearly missed by Mary, the love of his life and wife for 50 years; daughter Brenda and Don Schlumpf of Daggett, Michigan; Robert “Bobby” and Nicole Smith of Osseo; 3 grandsons, Shane and Cooper Smith and Sebastian Schlumpf. He is further survived by children, Richard Smith of Fairchild, Cindy (Eric) Amundson of Osseo, and their families; sister Barbara Smith of Eau Claire, and brother Bill (Connie) Smith and their families.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Viola; brother Rodney Smith, and infant brother Harold.
A memorial service will be held at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta at 3pm on Sunday, May 22, 2022, with a visitation starting at 1 pm at the funeral home on Sunday. .
Burial will be at a later date in the Levis Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital:
Online at www.lovetotherescue.org, (please specify the Twin Cities Unit, and in Memory of Robert Smith)
Or mail memorials to Shriners Hospital for Children Processing Center, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394
Online condolences can be left at www.andersonfhaugusta.com
