Bob, age 94, died on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at Winn Prairie in Freeport, IL. He was born on July 27, 1929 to Jacob and Ellen (Fels) Schiess on the farm in McConnell, IL. He was the youngest of 8 children. At age 2 his parents moved to a farm in rural Gratiot, WI, where he attended and graduated from the old White School. He married Beverly March on September 6, 1953 at St. Ann Church in Warren, IL. They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Six children were born to them; Scott, Tracy, Janis, Kerry, Todd and Brian.
Bob served in Korea during 1952 and 1953 with the 1169th Combat Engineer Group, reaching the rank of Sgt. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal with 3 bronze service stars, UN Service medal and the Korean War Service Medal given as thanks from the Korean Government.
Bob loved classic country and polka music and was a great dancer. He and Bev could be found at Turner Hall in Monroe, WI on Sunday afternoons dancing with their many friends. The barn on the farm was always rocking with polka music. Upon retirement they visited every state in their motor home and bought a small home in Mesa, AZ, spending winters there for many years. He loved to travel; four times to Europe, twice to Alaska and three times to Hawaii.
Bob was a good man, good husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, farmer and friend. He was always a farmer at heart and loved his farm in Stockton where he lived and worked for 30 years, bringing up his family there. He raised purebred Holsteins and was one of the top milk producers in the area at the time.
He is survived by his wife, Bev; children, Tracy Heidenreich of Elizabeth, Janis (Greg) Thoren of Stockton, Kerry (Cindy) Schiess of Byron Center, MI, Todd (Laila) Schiess of Concord, CA, and Brian (Michele) Schiess of Lanark; he was also very proud of, and loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Nathan and Aaron (Sara) Heidenreich, Neil and Julia Thoren (Ben) Blair, Kelly, Jody (Aedan) Gardill, Shannon Schiess and Anna (Quincy) Bollone, Zoe (Kam) McDonnell, Zachary Schiess, Travis (August) and Devin Schiess, also great grandchildren, Anna Blair, Brynn and Thomas Heidenreich and Scout Schiess; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Scott in 1972; his parents; 3 brothers; 4 sisters; and son-in-law, Loren Heidenreich.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 15, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Hermann Funeral Home in Stockton with a visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Stockton. A memorial fund has been established. Condolences may be shared at www.hermannfuneralhome.com.
