MONROE - Bernie Robertson enjoys the wildlife and scenic backroads of Green County and can often be found riding his bicycle both for enjoyment as well as competition. It's a longtime hobby in which he finds solace while also taking time to focus on family, career and community involvement.
He was born and raised in Monroe and attended South Elementary School. Robertson recalls self-initiated sports games almost always happening with several friends around town, and lots of freedom with his four siblings.
"I had a lot of fun," Robertson said. "I don't think Monroe has changed a lot in that way. I still think there's a lot of freedom for the kids."
He has fond memories of traveling with his family, often camping out west. Scouting was also a big part of his life: He has great memories of fantastic leaders and said he loved many summers spent at camp.
Robertson was an average student at Monroe High School where he reveled in sports, enjoying football, basketball and baseball. His senior year, he took part in a student exchange program, heading to Georgia for a while and then welcoming students back to Monroe.
"It was a great experience," he recalls. "It was eye-opening for me. Monroe wasn't quite as diversified like it is now."
He worked at Wrangler's Restaurant, Monroe's first fast food place. He started as a cook and eventually worked his way up to assistant manager, where he enjoyed working with classmates and friends.
The 1975 Monroe High School graduate headed to Blackhawk Technical College to become an auto mechanic and completed the one-year program. He still worked at Wrangler's, and when another restaurant opened in Lake Geneva, he took the opportunity offered to become the manager.
His parents had relocated to Wyoming, and Robertson would often visit and loved it. After a year at the restaurant, he decided to stay in Wyoming with his parents. He would hunt and fish with his father and loved the land. He landed a job as a bag placement engineer at a bentonite plant, earning a good wage with insurance.
Eventually he became a maintenance supervisor, which gave him the opportunity to use his auto mechanic skills, maintaining a variety of the equipment through the plant.
It was where he met his wife, Barbara, a Wyoming native working in the lab as a student intern. Robertson's parents eventually moved back to Monroe, but he stayed.
In the early 1980s there was an oil recession and after about eight years, Robertson said it was time for a career change. Barbara's parents helped the couple, who were married with two children at that time, as they both went back to school. Robertson earned his degree in Civil Engineering.
In 1990, they moved to Seattle, where Robertson landed a job for a consulting engineering firm designing wastewater treatment systems and water supply systems. They enjoyed Seattle, but Robertson said he didn't like the wet winters and constant overcast weather. It was a shock coming from Wyoming, where the sun seemingly always shined. He enjoyed the work, but the commute wore on him.
After a year, Robertson said he got the opportunity to work for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. That was almost 25 years ago, and although he's changed jobs within the DNR, now working in construction management, he still loves the work.
The job took the family back to Monroe, since Robertson's parents and some siblings were still there, and he still makes the commute to Fitchburg.
"Monroe is such a great place to raise children," Robertson said. "The winters are long for (Barbara) and it's not nearly as bright and sunny, but we love it here."
He said working with small communities and seeing new infrastructure to ensure safety and make water better has been rewarding.
"I get the opportunity to work outside the office a considerable amount," Robertson said. "I get to see public improvement projects that benefit the environment and the society."
He doesn't hunt or fish like he once did, but Robertson does still enjoy seeing the sights, the landscape and the wildlife Green County has to offer. And he's usually seeing them from behind the wheel of a bicycle, a pastime that's been both therapeutic and enjoyable for him.
He loved riding his bike in his youth, but said it became more serious while in Wyoming, where Robertson said the open, challenging roads drew him in. For the past 15 years, he's taken part in the Tour de Wyoming, sometimes with his wife and sons. Each year's ride is in a different portion of the state and covers between 350 to 500 miles in about six days under various terrain.
"I get a lot of enjoyment out of it," Robertson said. "We've made a lot of friends out there." The July event is limited to 350 riders per year and is based on a lottery pick.
The Wisconsin winters haven't stopped Robertson from riding or training for the event. He spends almost every day at the YMCA when weather isn't favorable, but otherwise, he can be found biking just about anywhere.
In the evenings he rides between 20 and 30 miles and about 50 miles on weekends, he said. He enjoys the backroads and often joins in rides with the Wisconsin Bicycle Federation. He also loves to ride in local fundraisers, like for Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Green County Humane Society and Pie Ride in Janesville each year.
"I don't think Green County - for bicycling - can be beat," Robertson said. "The roads, the ruralness and the people are generally considerate of bicyclists."
Robertson will turn 60 this year, but it hasn't slowed him down. He said a scenic ride is a great stress reliever and a place where he can see something new each day.
"It's a sport you can keep doing for a long time," Robertson said.
Being involved in his community has also been a big part of Robertson's life. He served two terms on Monroe city council and spent six years on the Green County Family YMCA Board of Directors, coaching almost everything there. He served on the Green County Development Corporation Board and was also a big part of the Green County Golden Gators, the YMCA swim team all of his children swam with through high school. He was also part of many other athletic activities.
He has served as the treasurer for the Badger State Trail for the past 10 years and enjoys the trail, often towing his grandson Jayden on his days off. He has maintained the Kiwanis Youth Cabin near his home for the past 15 years, saying it's a way he can give back to something that gives so much to the community.
Robertson also enjoys spending time in his woodshop making bird houses, which he puts up anywhere he can. He enjoys the diverse wildlife population in Wisconsin.
Scouting is also something he hasn't let go of. He has been an assistant Scout master with Boy Scout Troop 101 for the past 15 years after starting with his sons and is a merit badge counselor. He said working with great parents and bringing back great memories from his youth is special to him.
"I like to see young men grow and have the opportunity to grow and experience things they don't have the opportunity to at home," Robertson said. "It's rewarding when they finally reach the age where they become young men."
Robertson is already doing so much of what he loves, and is enjoying life. He and Barbara love to travel and spend their free time being close to their children and grandchildren.
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain," Robertson said.
He was born and raised in Monroe and attended South Elementary School. Robertson recalls self-initiated sports games almost always happening with several friends around town, and lots of freedom with his four siblings.
"I had a lot of fun," Robertson said. "I don't think Monroe has changed a lot in that way. I still think there's a lot of freedom for the kids."
He has fond memories of traveling with his family, often camping out west. Scouting was also a big part of his life: He has great memories of fantastic leaders and said he loved many summers spent at camp.
Robertson was an average student at Monroe High School where he reveled in sports, enjoying football, basketball and baseball. His senior year, he took part in a student exchange program, heading to Georgia for a while and then welcoming students back to Monroe.
"It was a great experience," he recalls. "It was eye-opening for me. Monroe wasn't quite as diversified like it is now."
He worked at Wrangler's Restaurant, Monroe's first fast food place. He started as a cook and eventually worked his way up to assistant manager, where he enjoyed working with classmates and friends.
The 1975 Monroe High School graduate headed to Blackhawk Technical College to become an auto mechanic and completed the one-year program. He still worked at Wrangler's, and when another restaurant opened in Lake Geneva, he took the opportunity offered to become the manager.
His parents had relocated to Wyoming, and Robertson would often visit and loved it. After a year at the restaurant, he decided to stay in Wyoming with his parents. He would hunt and fish with his father and loved the land. He landed a job as a bag placement engineer at a bentonite plant, earning a good wage with insurance.
Eventually he became a maintenance supervisor, which gave him the opportunity to use his auto mechanic skills, maintaining a variety of the equipment through the plant.
It was where he met his wife, Barbara, a Wyoming native working in the lab as a student intern. Robertson's parents eventually moved back to Monroe, but he stayed.
In the early 1980s there was an oil recession and after about eight years, Robertson said it was time for a career change. Barbara's parents helped the couple, who were married with two children at that time, as they both went back to school. Robertson earned his degree in Civil Engineering.
In 1990, they moved to Seattle, where Robertson landed a job for a consulting engineering firm designing wastewater treatment systems and water supply systems. They enjoyed Seattle, but Robertson said he didn't like the wet winters and constant overcast weather. It was a shock coming from Wyoming, where the sun seemingly always shined. He enjoyed the work, but the commute wore on him.
After a year, Robertson said he got the opportunity to work for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. That was almost 25 years ago, and although he's changed jobs within the DNR, now working in construction management, he still loves the work.
The job took the family back to Monroe, since Robertson's parents and some siblings were still there, and he still makes the commute to Fitchburg.
"Monroe is such a great place to raise children," Robertson said. "The winters are long for (Barbara) and it's not nearly as bright and sunny, but we love it here."
He said working with small communities and seeing new infrastructure to ensure safety and make water better has been rewarding.
"I get the opportunity to work outside the office a considerable amount," Robertson said. "I get to see public improvement projects that benefit the environment and the society."
He doesn't hunt or fish like he once did, but Robertson does still enjoy seeing the sights, the landscape and the wildlife Green County has to offer. And he's usually seeing them from behind the wheel of a bicycle, a pastime that's been both therapeutic and enjoyable for him.
He loved riding his bike in his youth, but said it became more serious while in Wyoming, where Robertson said the open, challenging roads drew him in. For the past 15 years, he's taken part in the Tour de Wyoming, sometimes with his wife and sons. Each year's ride is in a different portion of the state and covers between 350 to 500 miles in about six days under various terrain.
"I get a lot of enjoyment out of it," Robertson said. "We've made a lot of friends out there." The July event is limited to 350 riders per year and is based on a lottery pick.
The Wisconsin winters haven't stopped Robertson from riding or training for the event. He spends almost every day at the YMCA when weather isn't favorable, but otherwise, he can be found biking just about anywhere.
In the evenings he rides between 20 and 30 miles and about 50 miles on weekends, he said. He enjoys the backroads and often joins in rides with the Wisconsin Bicycle Federation. He also loves to ride in local fundraisers, like for Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Green County Humane Society and Pie Ride in Janesville each year.
"I don't think Green County - for bicycling - can be beat," Robertson said. "The roads, the ruralness and the people are generally considerate of bicyclists."
Robertson will turn 60 this year, but it hasn't slowed him down. He said a scenic ride is a great stress reliever and a place where he can see something new each day.
"It's a sport you can keep doing for a long time," Robertson said.
Being involved in his community has also been a big part of Robertson's life. He served two terms on Monroe city council and spent six years on the Green County Family YMCA Board of Directors, coaching almost everything there. He served on the Green County Development Corporation Board and was also a big part of the Green County Golden Gators, the YMCA swim team all of his children swam with through high school. He was also part of many other athletic activities.
He has served as the treasurer for the Badger State Trail for the past 10 years and enjoys the trail, often towing his grandson Jayden on his days off. He has maintained the Kiwanis Youth Cabin near his home for the past 15 years, saying it's a way he can give back to something that gives so much to the community.
Robertson also enjoys spending time in his woodshop making bird houses, which he puts up anywhere he can. He enjoys the diverse wildlife population in Wisconsin.
Scouting is also something he hasn't let go of. He has been an assistant Scout master with Boy Scout Troop 101 for the past 15 years after starting with his sons and is a merit badge counselor. He said working with great parents and bringing back great memories from his youth is special to him.
"I like to see young men grow and have the opportunity to grow and experience things they don't have the opportunity to at home," Robertson said. "It's rewarding when they finally reach the age where they become young men."
Robertson is already doing so much of what he loves, and is enjoying life. He and Barbara love to travel and spend their free time being close to their children and grandchildren.
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain," Robertson said.