Robert William Croucher

For those unable to attend "Bob's" Celebration of Life in person,

Please register at the link below to view the service via live stream.  

https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=382cf022-5f60-4731-8e90-5921bec35d64

Robert William (Bob) Croucher, age 81, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2023 at Oak Park Place-Nakoma with his wife by his side. He struggled for over a year with complications from a rare cancer condition-CMML (chronic myelomonocytic leukemia).

Bob was born on March 10, 1942, in Quincy, MA, to Leslie and Evelyn (Newell) Croucher. He was a descendant of Stephen Hopkins, a passenger on the Mayflower. He always took pride in his New England roots, especially being a lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox.

He was united in marriage to Barbara Sveum of Stoughton on January 4, 1977, in Madison. Bob is further survived by his brother, Charles Croucher, Land O'Lakes, FL and his sisters, Dorothy Lambert, Needham, MA, and Merilyn Brunton, Portland, ME.  Other survivors include his wife's sister and brother-in-law, Marlene (Earl) Volkmann, Middleton, WI; also several nieces and nephews and their families.

Bob attended Needham, MA High School where he was on the golf team and graduated in 1960. He continued his education at University of Arizona-Tucson where he majored in meteorology, an interest that he followed for the rest of his life through Midwest tornadoes, Florida hurricanes and 2017 solar eclipse in western U.S. However, Bob’s college education was interrupted by the Vietnam War. He joined the U.S. Army-101st Airborne Division in 1966. His first assignment was to manage the Army’s golf course at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Later the call came for service in Vietnam, where he was assigned to a base camp in Phu Bai. His job duty was meteorological observer. In 1969, Bob was honorably discharged. In 2014, Bob and Barb traveled to Hue, Vietnam (city near his original base camp) for an emotional tour of the area.

For many years, Bob owned Sight & Sound Productions and provided his clients with video memories of weddings and receptions. After he retired, he was a driver for Madison Taxi which gave him opportunities for many interesting conversations.

“Bobbo” (as his Odana Golf Course buddies called him) had a passion for golf. This passion started as a caddie at Wellesley (MA) Country Club at age 10. Summer was for golf in Wisconsin and also for annual golf tournament in Needham, MA, with his brother-in-law, George Lambert. There was a celebration at Odana Golf Course in July 2011 when Bob scored his hole-in-one. Bob also enjoyed board games, card games, especially bridge, and watching sports. He found great joy in making people laugh, and always had great jokes for everyone. 

Bob and Barb had many wonderful trips throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. They also enjoyed many fun cruises in the Caribbean and to Alaska. One of their favorite times was to spend winters in Sarasota, Florida to escape Madison’s cold weather. Many wonderful friendships were formed at their winter home and on the golf course.

A celebration of life with full Military Honors will be held at Cress Funeral Home, 6021 University Avenue, Madison on Friday, September 29 at 11:00. Visitation will be from 9:30 until time of service. CASUAL ATTIRE REQUESTED.   A luncheon will follow the service.

For those unable to attend "Bob's" Celebration of Life in person,

Please register at the link below to view the service via live stream.  

https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=382cf022-5f60-4731-8e90-5921bec35d64

Burial services will be at a later date at Graves Cemetery, Town of Rutland, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bob’s honor to Gilda’s Club Madison (www.gildasclubmadison.org), an organization offering support to those with cancer and their caregivers, or to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org), a national organization to find a cure for blood cancer and to improve quality of life for patients; contributions will be credited to your local area.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Shannon O’Mahar and the SSM Health-Madison staff for Bob’s care and to Bristol Hospice in his final days.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406