Robert James Brennan

Dr. Robert (Bob) Brennan, 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at ThedaCare Hospital-Neenah on Saturday November 2, 2024. Bob was born on April 27, 1946, son of the late Edith (Bauer) and Norman J. Brennan.
The second of five children, Bob grew up on Reid Street in De Pere, Wisconsin where he rode bikes, played tennis, and ice skated in the neighborhood. Bob spent Saturdays working the soda fountain at his father's pharmacy, Stowe Drugs, and Sundays attending Packer games at the original City Stadium. His love for amusement rides continued throughout his life and one of his greatest joys was passing on the experience of Bay Beach to his children and grandchildren.
Robert graduated from Abbot Pennings High School in 1964. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity, and went on to earn his D.D.S. from the Marquette University School of Dentistry in 1971. Just prior to his graduation, he married Roberta (Bobbi) Manthey on April 17, 1971, at Holy Cross Church in Milwaukee. Together they moved to Texas with Bob stationed at the Fort Hood U.S. Army base. They moved back to Wisconsin in 1974, and Robert began his dental practice in Neenah that same year. He owned his own practice for 40 years before retiring in 2014. Robert was an active member of the dental community serving various positions on the Boards for the Wisconsin Dental Association, American Dental Association, and Winnebago County Dental Society. A Tri-County Community Dental Clinic founder and past-president, Bob continued to volunteer his services up until his untimely passing-maintaining his license just for this purpose.
Robert cared deeply for his community. He was co-chair for the Neenah CARE Committee to ban indoor smoking and a member of the Neenah-Menasha Church Build-Habitat for Humanity Organizing Committee. Both Robert and Roberta cherished their friendships and remained friends with so many from their earliest days here.
Bob's greatest love was his wife Bobbi and his family. Bob and Bobbi were married for 49 years prior to her death in 2020. While opposite in nature, her calming personality and quiet strength was the force of their union. While life was never the same after her passing, he enjoyed time spent on the golf course, the ski slopes, and Badger football games. He was a member of Ridgeway Golf Club and was skiing the black diamonds in Colorado just this past March. He attended the Badger game the Saturday prior to his death with his son Eric. Robert will be deeply missed by his family and will forever remain in our hearts.
Preceding him in death were his wife Bobbi, brother Don Brennan, and parents Edith and Norman Brennan. Bob is survived by his three children: Nicole (Craig) Grimes, Marc (Katie) Brennan, and Eric Brennan: six grandchildren: Sara (Charlie) Bank, Abigail Grimes, Emily Grimes, Adam Grimes, Olive Brennan, Otis Brennan and three siblings: sisters Sharon and Nancy and brother Terry (Ellen).
Visitation will be Thursday December 12 at St. Margaret Mary's Church in Neenah from 5 – 7pm with a prayer service at 6:30pm. Funeral will be held on Friday December 13, 2024, with visitation at 10am until Mass at 11am. A reception will be held at the church following the Mass and then interment of ashes for both Robert and Roberta at St. Margaret Mary Cemetery.