Robert "Bob" Thalhofer

Robert “Bob” Lawson Thalhofer, 90 of Rockford, IL, a World War II Veteran, who served in 1944 with the 1269th Combat Engineer Battalion in Southern France, Germany and Italy, passed peacefully April 29, 2016, at the Amberwood Care Center in Rockford. During the war Bob was awarded the European Theater Ribbon with Two Battle Stars and the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. He was born December 2, 1925, at Klamath Falls, OR, the son of Joseph A. and Ursula (Kerwin) Thalhofer. He graduated from the University of Portland, and received an MBA from Harvard University in 1953. Bob’s entire business career, from 1953 to his retirement in 1998, was spent with companies that produced, marketed, or developed advertising for a diversified stable of consumer products, including Swiss Miss Instant Cocoa Mix, Dove Beauty Bar, and Alberto VO5. Bob’s jobs moved his family across the country 18 times before landing in Chicago in 1984, for the 4th time. Prior to his move to Rockford in 2007, Bob spent every free moment building, driving or touring. He loved his family, history, our country, religion and politics. He also loved to sing and led songs or lectured at many of the Catholic parishes they belonged to along the way including Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. Bob recounted his World War II 1269th Combat Engineer Battalion days in a book he wrote and published in 2011, “Company A! Combat Engineers Remember World War II”, available on Amazon. He had a great smile and a sparkle in his eyes, he will be missed terribly. He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Joan Patricia (Kerwin), and with whom he had a daughter, Rebecca A. Thalhofer (Lawrence J. Osborne) of Rockford, IL, and a son, Peter K. (Susan) Thalhofer of Vashon Island, WA. Besides his children, he is survived by 7 grandchildren including, Kathryn and Suzanne Osborne of Rockford and Josiah, Nathanael, Adam, Hosanna and Kellen Thalhofer of Washington; 5 great-grandchildren; and sister, Mary Ann (W. Hardy Myers) of Portland, OR. His two brothers, Joseph of Bend, OR, and Paul of Troutdale, OR, preceded him in death. Bob also considered the surviving members of the 1269th Combat Engineer Battalion as members of his family and was in touch with them until the end of his life. Bob also remained close and in touch with the many friends that he had accumulated from grade school, through high school, college, jobs and moves. We thank Amberwood Care Center nurses and CNA’s for their loving care of Dad and to his two great roommates there; James and Ed and to Heartland Hospice.

A memorial service for Bob will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday May 23, 2016, at Cathedral of St. Peter, 1243 N. Church St., Rockford, IL 61103, with visitation from 9 a.m. to service time. Inurnment in Portland, OR. Arrangements by Delehanty Funeral Home, Ltd., Loves Park. Memorials may be made to Cathedral of St. Peter.