Robert Ham

Lodi-Robert Kenneth Ham, age 74, of Lodi, Wisconsin passed away quietly, surrounded by family, on Friday, February 24, 2012 at 5:30 pm at University of Wisconsin Hospital due to complications from cancer.

Bob was born on September 29, 1937, in Rochester, Minnesota. He was the first-born child of Kenneth and Doris Ham. He grew up in Duluth and Minneapolis. He received a Bachelor's degree in 1960 in chemical engineering from The University of Minnesota. After working for the 3M Company, he went on to get his Master's and Doctorate degrees in chemical and environmental engineering at the University of Washington. In 1967 he became a professor in environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

At the University of Wisconsin Bob helped pioneer several sanitary landfill practices which are still used today, such as the extracting and burning of landfill gas as a beneficial re-use. One of his projects even led to kitchen garbage disposals becoming legal in New York City, Korea, and Norway. He retired in 1998.

After moving to a house in Westpoint (north of Lodi) Bob was elected to the town board. With his leadership Westpoint adopted a comprehensive land-use plan, ensuring limited development and preserving the township's rural character.

Bob Ham's diverse interests included music, bicycling, motorcycling, and spending time with his family. Throughout his life, Bob's intellectual curiosity inspired him to travel. He visited Europe for the first time in 1954, and returned around 35 times. He also rode his motorcycle all over the country, including to and from Alaska.

Bob is preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Brereton, who died last spring of cancer.

He remained very close to his family, which includes his 3 children, Rebecca (Art) Hebblewhite, of Waunakee, Carl (Kerry) Ham, of Madison, and Richard Brereton, of Lodi; his four grandchildren, Rachael, Olivia, Kira, and Aaron, and his sister, Sharon (Hugh) Currie of St. Paul, MN.

A funeral service for Bob will be held at First Baptist Church, 518 North Franklin Avenue, Madison at 12 noon on Wed. February, 29, 2012. A Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until time of service.