Robert Regenberg

WAUNAKEE-Robert Carl "Bob" Regenberg died peacefully on March 29, 2019 at home in their apartment in Waunakee, surrounded by his loving family at age 88. Born in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of Carl and Frieda, he was the oldest of four children.

Bob grew up in Maple Bluff neighborhood with notable neighbors Oscar Mayer and the legendary banjo player, Eddie Peabody. He attended Wisconsin High School where he played volleyball, lettered in football as a quarterback and running back, and made the high school hall of fame in golf. Bob loved to sit on his deck and share stories with his neighbor, Pat, about his athletic prowess. According to Pat, Bob expounded upon how he was a quarterback and running back that possessed wicked speed.

Bob graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1953, majoring in Speech and English. During his college years he worked for his father in their family business, Regenberg Paint and Wallpaper. It was there he met Celesta, a recent graduate of the UW, who was employed as the accountant. Bob's father asked Celesta to tutor him, and it didn't take long for the tutoring relationship to grow more serious. They were married September 6, 1952.

Bob served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955 in Germany and the U.S. He eventually made his way to becoming Advertising and Sales Promotion Manager for Mautz Paint. By the time he retired, he had written a book on sales for paint and wallpaper retailers and taught his trade to college students and sales professionals. He was also a member of the industry organization Color Guild and developed the color card system that was used across the industry for many years.

In 1957, Bob and Celesta moved into the family home they built overlooking Lake Mendota. The Spring Harbor neighborhood was a great place to raise a family with an abundance of year round sports and activities. And it was only a block away from their dearest family friends, Bo and Mary Ann Welch, with whom many a happy time and special holidays were spent. They lived there for more than 60 years.

Over the years, Bob enjoyed many activities with his family and friends. The family joined Blackhawk Country Club to pursue their love of golf and teach the children to play. Bob was very talented and greatly enjoyed playing the banjo. He played with many local bands and was affectionately known as "Banjo Bob." As a huge Badger and Packer fan, according to neighbors Pat and Kim McBride, he "loved to dissect the play calling of the coaches before and after every game. Bob's sense of humor was legendary and he could hold court for hours on his deck. He could make anyone laugh, especially kids."

Bob's greatest love was his family. He would take his wife and children out to see his step-mother, Lillian and the Larsen family at her farm, where many a wonderful day was spent in the hills and valleys outside of Cross Plains. And there were so many happy memories of traveling out to the beautiful countryside of Boscobel in Western Wisconsin to see Celesta's parents and her brother, Arno's family at their farm. Though far away, Bob looked forward to long phone calls maintaining the close relationships with his brother, Kurt and sister, Fritzie. Later in life, nothing put a smile on his face like his grandchildren and, more recently, his great-granddaughter, Olivia. He was a great father, a great friend, and will be greatly missed.
Bob is survived by his wife, Celesta; daughter, Christine; son, Dick; and son, David who lives in Louisiana with his wife, Sonya; daughters, Rebecca and Laura; and great-grandchild, Olivia; brother, Kurt Regenberg and family (Tennessee); sister, Fritzie Satterley and her son, Phil (Colorado); and step-brother, John Larsen and and wife, Karen and family (Minnesota). He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Frieda Regenberg; step-mother, Lillian (Larsen) Regenberg; in-laws, Fritz and Rose Gebhard; his brother, Chuck; and brothers-in-law, David Satterley and Arno Gebhard.

Bob was cremated at Winn-Cress Funeral Home in Waunakee with a private family service.

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Winn-Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
5785 Highway Q
Waunakee, WI 53597
(608)849-4513