Robert John Ross

Robert John Ross, 97, of Brodhead, died on June 26, 2022.

He was born March 5, 1925, to Howard and Ruth (Johnson) Ross in Marquette, Mich.
He wanted to join the military when he was 17, but he needed his parents’ consent. His mother wouldn’t sign, so when he turned 18 on March 5, he enlisted. The date of his induction was April 9, 1943. The date of service into active duty was April 16, 1943, and his date of separation from service was March 22, 1946. He was with the 89th Airborne Squadron. He was the Aerial Engineer for the B-25 Bomber. He served overseas in the China, Burma,India Theatre of operations for 23 months and 15 days.

He received The Good Conduct Medal, The American Theater Service Medal, and The Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal, and was a WWII Veteran.

Later in life he went back to school and got his GED.
He said the luckiest day in his life was Aug. 13, 1949. He married Alma A. Kern in a candle light ceremony in Waukesha.

She passed away Sept. 28, 2014. They were married 65 years. They lived in Waukesha for 48 years. They moved to Brodhead, in 1987, when he retired.

He was a mechanic at a garage in Milwaukee from 1946 to 1954. He was a salesman/driver for Hawthorne Melody Ice Cream from 1954 to 1974. After Hawthorne closed down he went to work as an electrician for International Harvester of Waukesha, working there from 1974 to 1987.

He was a member of United Methodist Church of Brodhead. He also was a member of the VFW Post 6858 of Brodhead.

Along the way, he had a lot of hobbies. He was a Ham Radio Operator, K9GKE, certified Scuba Diver, and Radio Controlled Airplanes enthusiast.

His motorcycle, 4 wheeling, riding his bike on the Brodhead Bike Trail, and walking his dog, Betsy Ross around North Towne were also favorite pastimes.

One of his biggest pleasures was getting his Pilot’s License and flying all around Wisconsin with his wife. They would go to every Pancake Fly-In they could attend. They were very proud of their Cessna and would fly it to EAA Air Venture in Oshkosh.

They also owned property on Castle Rock Lake. They enjoyed lake life.

He is survived by his children: Howard (Roz) Ross of Long Beach, California, Karen (Jeffrey) Williams of Brodhead and Patti (Donald) Labs of Islamorada, Florida; daughter-in-law, Amy (Douglas) Limburg of Bountiful, Utah; grandchildren: Sarah (Eric) Pearlman, Paul Ross, John (Sarah) Ross, Kyle (Fonda Sanyaolu) Hudnall, Ashley Williams, Danyelle (Tyler) Bollig, Mathieu (Lauren) Labs, and Kristen (Trevor) Santarius; great-grandchildren: Ethan and Scarlet Pearlman, Sawyer and Ashlynn Phillips, Paxley, Oaklynn, and StetsynBollig.

He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws: Benjamin and Alma Kern, sister: Helen Ross, son: William Ross, son-in-law: James Hudnall, brother in-law: Ben (the late Dorothy) Kern, sister-in-law: Esther (the late Oscar) Staab, sister-in-law: Rosetta Johnson, and brother-in-law: Arnold Johnson.

Funeral services was held at 11 a.m., Friday, July 1, at the United Methodist Church, Brodhead. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery, Brodhead, with Military Honors. Visitation was held Thursday, June 30, at the D.L. Newcomer Funeral Home, Brodhead.
Family said in his memory, “Our Dad is now flying to Heaven to pick up Mom. She will be ready to go and have the map to where the next Pancake Fly-In is.”

In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity.