Robert W. Ahrens

MADISON – Robert W. Ahrens, age 75, passed away holding the hands of his loving wife and daughter, on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. He was born on July 26, 1934, in Waukesha, the son of Ora and Evelyn (Hardaker) Ahrens. Bob has always had the love of music and while getting his Undergraduate Degree at the University of Wisconsin, he had the opportunity to march in the 1953 Rose Bowl Parade with the UW Band. While serving in the United States Army Reserves he received special honors for his skill in marksmanship. On December 7, 1957, he was united in marriage to Laverne Holtz in Mukwonago, WI. Bob received his Masters degree in Horticulture from UW-Madison in 1966. He worked 7 years in the Plant Pathology Extension doing applied research. To know Bob is to know the meaning of patience and perseverance, expressed in his nurturing of all living things. For the past 35 years he had the joy of combining his creative gifts, his inventive mind and his mechanical skills both as a self employed businessman and while employed by others including Graber Manufacturing and Wal-Mart. Bob was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church for over 40 years. He was a kind and gentle man and will be dearly missed by all, most especially his wife of 52 years; his daughter, Beth (Tom) Williams, of Lake Mills; his sister, Jan (Keith) Landers, of Madison; his brother, Richard (Jan) Ahrens, of Iowa City, Iowa; grandchildren, Nicole Sulzer, Teagen and Sydney Williams; many nieces and nephews, and his loving cats, Sweetie and Pawzy. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his daughter, Linda Ahrens. His love of music endured to the end and sustained him through his illness. One of his final gifts was a touching duet of “Time After Time” sung for the family with LaVerne, not long before his passing. Funeral services will be held at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. with Pastor Curt Everson officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Roselawn Memorial Park, Monona. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday, from 11 a.m. until the time of service.