Robert Thorne

Madison - Robert "Bob" Thorne, age 94, died peacefully in his home on Tuesday, August 18, 2015. Bob was born on January 23, 1921 in Geneva, NY to Marian (Rolph) Thorne and Robert S. Thorne, Sr. Growing up, Bob enjoyed his summers at the family cottage on Lake Ontario where he spent many hours sailing. After high school, he graduated from Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania in 1939 and Oberlin College in Ohio in 1943 with a B.A. in Economics. At Oberlin he met Miriam "Mimi" Carlson with whom he enjoyed 65 years of marriage. He served in the U.S. Army, 32nd Infantry Division in the South Pacific and then in Japan from May 1943 until his honorable discharge in February 1946.

After the war and two years in Washington, DC, he and Mimi settled in Madison. The majority of Bob's professional career was engaged in commodities purchasing for the food industry, culminating as Director of Purchasing for Sanna Division of ConAgra Foods. After retirement in 1984, he and Mimi spent summers in Madison and winters in Lakeland Florida until 2004 when they moved to Oakwood Village in Madison. Over his long lifetime, Bob enjoyed sailing, golfing, gardening, and bridge. He was a dedicated reader of the Wall Street Journal and followed the markets closely.

Bob is survived by his daughter Nancy Thorne Cahill (Michael Cahill) of Mt. Horeb, WI; son Peter S. Thorne (Susan Kaliszewski) of Iowa City, IA; grandchildren Alec Thorne of Chicago, IL, and Kate and Anneke Thorne of Iowa City, IA; and brother-in-law, Frederick W. White (Virginia) of Exeter, NH. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mimi; two infant children; sister, Susan White; and daughter-in-law, Moira J. Whitehead.

A Memorial Service will be at OAKWOOD VILLAGE, UNIVERSITY WOODS AT RESURRECTION CHAPEL, 6205 Mineral Point Rd., Madison at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 22, 2015. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be directed towards the Oakwood Foundation, 6201 Mineral Point Rd, Madison, WI 53705 or the Badger Honor Flight, P.O. Box 258066, Madison, WI 53725 or online at www.badgerhonorflight.org/donate/online-donations-test.


Cress
Funeral and Cremation Service
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608-238-3434