Obituaries

Robert A. (Bob) Launder, age 89, passed away peacefully at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison surrounded by his loving family on May 17, 2022.

Bob was born on July 26, 1932, to Arnold and Agnes (Dempsey) Launder at St. Mary’s Hospital. A lifelong Madisonian, he graduated from Madison Central High School in 1951 where he was a star shortstop on Central’s 1949 State Championship baseball team. It was at Central where he met the love of his life, Patricia Swadley, and they were married on April 8, 1952, at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church. Bob and Pat recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with their extended family.

Bob served his country in the Korean War as a U.S. Navy medical corpsman returning home with an Honorable Discharge to continue his career, which spanned 44 years at the Ray-O-Vac company from which he proudly retired at the age of 65 in 1997.

Bob’s Catholic faith was an essential part of his life and led him through all of his life’s joys and challenges, especially during the last several years of his life. He was a charter member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and a faithful follower of the Lord his entire life.

Bob and Pat were blessed with six children: Mike (Kathy), Diane, Tom, Susie, Judy (Peter) Salm and Dave (Yolanda). He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Bobby (Samantha) Salm, Brian Launder, Jonathan (Emma) Launder, Jake Salm, Jenny (Brett) Norling, and Emily Salm, who he loved with all his heart and attended as many of their sporting and other events as he possibly could. He is also survived by many cherished family members & friends.

Bob was a loving husband, father and grandfather and family was always the most important part of his life.

He was a fan of all Wisconsin sports teams, the Badgers, Packers, and Bucks, but baseball was his first love in sports and above all he loved cheering on his Milwaukee Brewers. Bob was able to attend Game 3 of the 1982 World Series with his family and always hoped for another trip for the Brewers to the Fall Classic.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Richard and sister Delores Starkey and will now rejoice in a family reunion in Heaven.

The family would like to thank the nursing staff of St. Mary’s Hospital for their exceptional care during his final days. They would especially like to thank Dad’s wonderful in-home caregiver Yulanda Jones for her compassionate care and friendship during the last twelve months.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 602 Everglade Drive, with Father Bart Timmerman officiating. Visitation will be held Monday, May 23, 2022, from 4 – 7 p.m. at Ryan Funeral Home, 5701 Odana Road, Madison and then again from 10:00 a.m. Tuesday until the time of Mass at the Church.

In honor of Bob, and his love of sports, the family requests casual Wisconsin sports themed attire at both the Visitation and Mass, especially anything Brewers or Badgers related.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Wounded Warriors.

“Unforgettable, that’s what you are.”

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church Live Stream Information

Mass for Bob will stream live on YouTube beginning at 11:00 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, 05/24/2022. Below is a link to view the St. Thomas Aquinas YouTube Channel. We will begin streaming about 15 minutes before Mass for everyone to get settled to join us in prayer. We encourage those joining us online to create a prayerful setting in their home - like a home altar space with a candle, flowers, a picture of Bob, and perhaps a special remembrance. We look forward to praying our Mass together for Bob.

Livestream link:

https://www.youtube.com/c/StThomasAquinasChurchMadison/

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