ROBERT TORNOW

Tornow, Robert William Neenah Robert W. Tornow, age 86, passed away at St. Elizabeth Hospital on Monday evening, March 7, 2011 as a result of complications following heart surgery. Robert was born on May 15, 1924 in Stanley, Wisconsin, the son of William and Matilda (Holey) Tornow. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith at the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Stanley by his mothers cousin, the late Rev. Johan Midtlien. His father moved the family to Neenah in 1938 where he worked for Mr. Bohlmann as a painter and paper hanger. Robert loved sharing his fond memories of his boyhood in Stanley and his youth in Neenah. He attended Neenah High School, where he was a member of the football team and graduated in 1942. While a student he worked part time at the old A&W Root Beer Stand downtown, delivered ice to homes for Schultzs Ice House, and worked on his cousins farm. Following his graduation he enlisted and served in the Army Air Corps as an airplane mechanic. On May 7, 1945 he married his high school sweetheart, Helen Jurgenson, while stationed at Gowen Air Force Base in Boise, Idaho. Helen and her sister Marilynn traveled from Neenah to Idaho for the wedding. After the war the couple returned to Neenah where they built a home, raised a family, and remained lifetime residents. Robert and Helen celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary prior to her death in November of 2005. Robert was employed by Kimberly-Clark at the Lakeview Paper Mill for 38 years until his retirement in 1984. He was skilled at woodworking and whittling. Many of his friends are recipients of his unique hand-carved duck decoys. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and running his dogs at the Fox River Beagle Club, where he was a member for many years. He was a modest man who especially cherished time spent with his children and his grandchildren. Robert is survived by his three daughters: Jane and Donna Tornow, Neenah, Susan (Mark) Fagerburg, Columbus, WI; twin sons: David (Mary) Tornow, Neenah, and Harold Tornow, Oshkosh. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Courtney (Michael) Van Lieshout, Whitney Tornow, Taylor and Graham Fagerburg. Other survivors include his brother Louis Tornow, his sister Bertha Koepke, his sister-in-law Marilynn MacDonald, his brother-in-law John Jurgenson, and many nieces and nephews. Robert was preceded in death by his wife Helen, his parents, his in-laws Otto and Bessie Jurgenson, and his brother Harold Olson. A funeral service for Robert will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Marks Lutheran Church in Neenah with the Reverend Stephen Dietzler officiating. Friends will be received at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the hour of service. Military Honors will follow. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Marks Lutheran Church or Neenah Parks in Roberts name would be appreciated. Roberts family wishes to thank the neighbors for their many acts of kindness as his health declined after Helen died. We are also grateful for the compassionate care of the doctors, nurses, and staffs of St. Elizabeth and Theda Clark Hospitals, and Oakridge Gardens Nursing Home as well as his personal physician, Dr. William Nelson, who tended to his frailties.