Robert Pendleton Sr.

Robert (Bob) S. Pendleton Sr., 93, of Hayward successfully ran his race and was welcomed into the arms of his Lord Savior on Friday, December 13, 2019.

He was born August 29, 1926 in St. Joseph, Missouri, the son of James and Ruby (Smith) Pendleton. He led an adventurous life. After high school, he headed West to work on the railroad and then he made his way to a logging camp in Oregon where he became a cat-skidder. Later, he felt the call to serve his country as a seaman with the Merchant Marines, earning the rank of 3rd Mate. After serving in the Merchant Marines, he worked on a fire boat in Puget Sound, Washington. While in Seattle, Bob heard about the Florida Everglades and quickly made his way to South Florida where he met the love of his life, Lois Bare, and they married October 1, 1950. A family of five children would follow. Continual learning was a passion of Bob’s and he would go on to start an Everglades Airboat Guide Service, become a water ski instructor, airplane pilot, ship captain, stock car driver, and started his own window tinting company, amongst many more business endeavors.

In the early 1970s, Bob, Lois, and the family discovered Hayward while adventuring across the United States on a summer vacation. It all started at the Wannigan Pancake House at Lumberjack Bowl, where Bob and family were drawn to the logrolling fun taking place across the bowl. He and his family became very involved with the various events. Bob would eventually lead the push to bring the National Lumberjack Championships to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1976.

In the 1980s, Bob began purchasing property in the Hayward area and moved there full time. He made his home at the 400-acre farm across from the KOA Campground. Bob had many passions, including logrolling, ax throwing, roller blading, mountain biking, tennis, square dancing, snow skiing, waterskiing and anything else that peaked his interest. He loved all creatures, often fostering injured animals back to health. It was common at meals to be joined by recovering wildlife such as raccoons, owls, opossum, birds and many more critters.

Bob was avid about the importance of community involvement. Over the years he was engaged from Florida to Hayward with the Rotary, Lions, Chamber of Commerce, Audubon Society, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, Civil Air Patrol, Boy Scouts of America, area churches and all of Hayward’s sports teams. He especially loved to watch the Hawks play baseball and to cheer on the Hurricane soccer team.

He enjoyed the fellowship of First Lutheran Church and eventually worshipped at the Hayward Wesleyan Church. The family would like to give special thanks to Pastor Loretta and Pastor Chad for their continual support during Bob’s home going process.

Bob is survived by his five children, Bobby of Hayward, Sandra (Rick) Harbst of Carrollton, Texas, Penny (Allen) Weiner of Hayward, Ken (Deb Standaert) of Cumberland and Bonnie (Ron) Kubarek of Hayward; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; two brothers, Ken (Linda) of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Monte (Linda) of Houston, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lois and brother, James.

A celebration of life on July 27, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. with a military service will be held at Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner. All are welcome to attend and pay their respects. The family will have a private gathering together following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Hayward Public Library, Hayward, Wisconsin. 

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