Robert William Buchholtz of Oconomowoc, WI passed away on July 15, 2026 at the age of 79 after living with Lewy Body Dementia. He transitioned peacefully surrounded by family.
Robert was born on December 11, 1946, in Monroe, WI to parents Rodney and Dorothea Buchholtz. One of his proudest achievements came in 1965, when he helped lead the Monroe High School Cheesemakers to an undefeated season and the school's first Wisconsin state basketball championship, delivering a memorable 29-point performance in the championship game. He continued his basketball career at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he earned Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition in 1968.
After earning his degree in Education, Bob began his career as a teacher. He later completed a master's degree in School Business Management, which led him into school administration. He was a long-time Executive Director of Business Services and Assistant Superintendent for the School District of Waukesha, Wisconsin. He served in this role for decades, managing district assets, energy efficiency programs, and large-scale facility constructions. In his career, he had a significant positive impact on the education of many children throughout the Waukesha school district. He retired from this role in 2007, but his legacy continues today.
Bob loved golfing, traveling, and supporting his favorite sports teams. He was often found enjoying a good book with a cup of coffee in hand.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 11 years, Julia Kummrow. He was a devoted father to the three children he shared with his first wife, Betsy Regez: David Buchholtz (Tina), Molly Schaber (Ryan), and Emily Fusaro (Kurtis). He was a proud grandfather to Sonora Buchholtz (17), Miles Schaber (15), Henry Schaber (11), Hayes Schaber (9), Mia Fusaro (6), and Violet Fusaro (4).
A service is scheduled for 11:30am, Sunday August 30, 2026 at Summit Cemetery in Oconomowoc, WI. The family will greet friends and relatives at The Golden Mast starting at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Lantern, a nonprofit in Portland, OR focused on grief support that was started by Bob's three children or memorials can be made payable to the Waukesha County Community Foundation, with WEF (Buchholtz Memorial) in the memo field.