Robert "Bobby" Sobek

Madison - Robert “Bobby” Dean Sobek, age 84, loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, was called home to God on May 3, 2021.

Bob was born on June 7, 1936, in Muscoda, WI, the son of Joseph and Helen (Pospichal) Sobek. He graduated from Madison Central High School in 1954. In 1957, on a snowy January day, Bob married the light of his life, Mary Anne Castle, who navigated life with Bob from the springtime of their youth through winters of wisdom and beyond. They recently celebrated their 64th Wedding Anniversary. They credit their mutual friend, Pat (Link) Pickering, with bringing the two of them together. Bob would remind Pat each year on their anniversary with a thank-you card. From Chandler Street to West Lawn Avenue in Madison, Bob nurtured life-long friendships and held a deep connection to his Muscoda roots.

True to his strong work ethic, Bob managed a young, growing family while working for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation as a Project Engineer on many District 1 road construction projects. After 40 years, Bob retired in 1996. He and Mary Anne were fortunate to travel in his retirement. He especially loved to recount memories from their trips to Prague, Czechoslovakia, with Bob’s sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Bob Benfield, and their Danube River Cruise with Mary Anne’s sister and brother-in-law, Sally and Glen Lee. For years, he met regularly at CJ’s with his friend, Don Hansen. Bob and Mary Anne enjoyed many weekends with Don and Pat Hansen at their property in Westfield.

Gifted with Bohemian Spirit, Bob brightened the world with his twinkling hazel eyes, gift of gab, and contagious laugh. He was a quiet listener, marked by faith, humility, generosity, and a sense of humor. A modest man with a huge heart, Bob taught and set an example for his children on life, living, and growing up to be good people no matter your circumstances. Artistic and creative, Bob was always building, fixing, or creating something new. He was a master woodworker and stain glass creator and delighted in the faces of recipients of his works of art!

Bobby loved to show his family the highways he built. Family vacations consisted of loading the family into the Chevy station wagon and driving across the state to every historic site Wisconsin had to offer. Stonefield Village in Cassville was one of the family favorites, and Bob was in his element grilling hot dogs on the Mississippi River and sharing stories of the day-long adventure.

Bob loved his wife, children, and grandchildren endlessly and shared special moments in their lives, leaving lasting imprints on their hearts. Bob is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Anne; children: Steven (Carol) Sobek, Sandy (Joe Leslie) Sobek Leslie, Erin (Tom Brundage) Sobek, Diane Sobek, and Jeffrey Sobek; grandchildren: Sarah (Mike Ozburn) Sobek-Ozburn, Christian Sobek, Jamieson Grace Leslie, Nick Brundage, and Nate Brundage. He is further survived by his sisters, Helen Pubanz, Donna (Bob) Benfield, and Mary (John) Cahoon, sister-in-law Sally (Glen) Lee, brothers-in-law Leo (Janet) Castle, Michael Castle, and Leroy Mellum; family friend Bill Koberstein; and a large extended family of nieces and nephews, cousins, dear friends, and his special feline companion Molly.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Joseph Vandy and Catherine (Dremsa) Sobek, and Matt and Anna (Vranek) Pospichal; parents Joesph and Helen (Pospichal) Sobek; sisters Ann Kavinsky, Betty Waddell Mellum, Joyce Smith; brothers-in-law Gordon Waddell and Robert B. Smith; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law Leonard and Josepha (Patterson) Castle.

A memorial service will be held at CRESS FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICE, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at 2:00 pm. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, from noon until the time of service.

For the past five years, Bob suffered from Parkinson’s Disease. The Sobek family extends a huge thank you to Bright Star caregivers Kaila and Kim and Agrace Hospice for their care and support.

At the end of Bob’s rich life only two things mattered to him ~ the people he loved and those who loved him. Bob left this world a loved and loving man. His was truly a Wonderful Life Well-Lived!

Memorials may be made in Bob’s name to the Wisconsin Parkinson’s Association, 16655 W. Bluemound Road, Suite 330, Brookfield, WI 53005, Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 East Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, WI 53711, or Second Harvest Food Bank, 2802 Dairy Drive, Madison, WI 53718.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Road

(608) 238-3434