Obituary: Robert L. Wolter

Robert L. Wolter passed away peacefully Saturday the 18th of June, 2016, in Sturgeon Bay while in the company of family. Robert was the son of William and Leona (Bartel) Wolter born 27 September 1926.  Robert was a member of the Class of 1945 of Sturgeon Bay High School. However, he enlisted in the Navy in January, 1945 and was stationed in the Philippines until the end of WWII.

Robert married Kathyrn A. Fellner on 17 September 1949, who preceded him in death in 1993.  Robert is survived by his very dear friend Betty Anschutz and his six children: Robert L. Jr. Sturgeon Bay, WI; Barbara L. Barnum, (Bob Barnum), Dykesville, WI; Joseph W., Madison, WI; James J. and Cindy (Cihlar), Sturgeon Bay, WI; Stephen K., Miami Beach, FL; and Peter T. Ames, IA.  He was blessed with 6 grandchildren: Jonathon Maenpaa, Stephanie Maenpaa, Josef Maenpaa, Adam Wolter, Kimberly White and Quintin Wolter and four great-grandchildren.

After returning from the WWII, Robert began work at Sturgeon Bay Shipyard and Drydock Company, which was co-owned by his Father, William Wolter, and Captain John Roen.  While employed at the shipyard, he worked in various capacities, including operating the yards’ tugboats – eventually earning his captain’s licenses. His father died in a boating accident in 1950 and his share of the shipyard was sold to Capt. John Roen. Robert continued to work as a tug captain for Roen Steam ship hauling logs across Lake Superior from Minnesota’s north shore to a mill in Ashland, WI; for Reinhart Krause hauling logs from Chambers Island to Algoma, WI; and for both Bay Shipbuilding Corporation and Selvick Marine.  Concurrently, Robert founded Wolter Engraving Service, which is now owned and operated by James and Cindy Wolter.

All his life Robert was an avid sailor – sailing in 15 Mackinac races and placing in two aboard the Ben Beau (Clayton Ewing, owner) and first place, in his class, aboard the Jenny 2 (Max Murphy, owner) as helmsman in 1971.  On at least a couple Mack races it was so rough that all hands were “sick as dogs” and stayed below leaving him at the helm for extended periods of time, as he “never got sea sick.”  He also claimed notoriety in the Green Bay waters in 1965 as the over-all winner of the 100-Miler race in his 26-foot Pearson Ariel; beating much larger boats including the Bay-Bea, owned at the time by Patrick Haggerty co-founder, former president and chairman of Texas Instruments, earning him the name “Rapid Robert.”

Robert was quite active with the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, which initiated a very successful junior sailing program, responsible for developing scores of excellent sailors.  He eventually became Commodore in in 1967.

Robert was one of a number of Sturgeon Bay businessmen that founded the First National Bank in 1967, which was later sold to Associated Bank.  Robert had a reputation for a warm heart, great cooking and a captivating, unmistakable laugh! He loved his garden and shared much of its bounty with his friends in the form of jams and pies. His last few years he enjoyed just sitting on his patio overlooking the bay and exclaiming how beautiful it is.

A private memorial service will be scheduled for later in the summer.  Forbes Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Special thanks to Unity Hospice, Ministry Medical Center, the staff at Anna’s Health Care, Bill Graf, and Cory Hockers for all the care and support.