Robert (Bob) Sherman
Robert Sherman was born on December 2, 1927, to Nathalie and Henry Sherman who were the foundation of the man he became. Raised with five brothers Hank, Al, Jerry, George, Patrick and a sister Dorothy, family is what Bob cherished and over the course of his life, innumerable friends also became his family. In 1944 as two brothers headed off to fight in WW II, at the age of 16, Bob became a Merchant Marine. He afterwards spent time in the Army as well as the Reserves during his 10 years of service to our country.
Returning from war, Bob serendipitously formed a relationship with Tom Lloyd, founder of Admiral (1949), then Target Corporation (1965) whose primary business was a top secret defense contractor for the U.S. government. Bob worked for Tom practically his entire professional career. His career included developing some of the first printed circuit boards used in government equipment and creation of underwater surveillance. He also had numerous personal hobbies ranging from oil painting and playing the drums to photography and practicing hypnotherapy and transcendental meditation.
In 1958 one of his co-workers set Bob up on a blind date with the pretty single lady who lived above him. After three years Bob married Nancy Baczynski (Varese), a Chicago native who worked in the travel industry and radio and had a wicked sense of humor.
Bob retired from Target in 1991 and, upon Nancy’s retirement in 1999, started a new life at PebbleCreek Retirement Community. Bob and Nancy entrenched themselves into a network of people who quickly became another set of family members to them. They joined the Italian-American Club and relished the friendships of the Comedy Supper Club, the PC Players and the Showtime theater groups.
In a very sad and unfortunate manner, God took Nancy in 2005 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. It was the people of the PebbleCreek community that provided the love, care, compassion and support Bob needed to continue to flourish and grow in his life.
For his eightieth birthday his daughter Laura took him on trip to Egypt and in 2014 his daughter Kathryn accompanied him on a Stars and Stripes Honor Flight to DC in recognition of his WWII service. In 2012 Bob became a proud grandfather for the first time when his daughter Kathryn and husband Chad brought their son, Calvin Robert Rowen, into the world.
Bob was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on New Year’s Eve 2014. He gave it everything he could and continued to be gracious even in the face of demise.
Bob is survived by his daughters Dr. Laura, Goodyear Arizona (S.O. Rick) and Kathryn (Chad) with grandson Calvin, Appleton Wisconsin, brother Patrick (Nancy), Wauconda, Illinois, brother-in-law John (Dianne) in Goodyear, Arizona and numerous deeply loved nieces and nephews as well as cousins.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our family and friends, the community at PebbleCreek who he loved so very deeply and the wonderful people with Always Best Care nursing and Infinity Hospice care.
A Celebration of Life was held on January 30, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. in the PebbleCreek Tuscany Renaissance Theatre. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Life Center (http://www.newlifectr.org) or Build the Backstage, a fundraising effort to remodel and update Bob’s beloved PebbleCreek Theatre. Checks can be made out to Build the Backstage. Sentiments and donations can be sent to: Kathryn Rowen, 4706 Waterstone Court, Appleton Wisconsin 54914.
Dr. William R. Van Ornam
Dr. William R. Van Ornam of Unit 39 passed away on Thursday, January 7, 2016, from complications of vascular dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
“Dr. Bill” was a versatile musician filling many roles that now span seven decades. He taught music, conducted choirs, was a concert artist in piano and performed in a wide variety of genres from classical to jazz and played piano and keyboard in small intimate groups, big band ensembles and pit and concert orchestras. He wrote most of his own choral, piano and organ arrangements.
Bill had his own jazz combo and directed the West Valley Chorale as well as forming, writing arrangements for and directing his own swing-jazz vocal group, The Voices of Van Ornam, that performed throughout the valley.
More recently Dr. Van Ornam was music director for theatrical productions at Theater Works in Peoria, PebbleCreek Showtime and in Sun City Grand. His credits include All Night Strut, How to Succeed in Business, Hello Dolly, Oklahoma and Guys and Dolls.
Bill was born in San Bernardino, California and grew up in Hemet, California. He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughter Terrill Rae Haenny, son William Robert Van Ornam and brother Dr. Donald Van Ornam.