Robert Echtner

Robert L. "Bob" Echtner, age 98, passed away at his home in Shawano on Sunday, January 8, 2023. Robert was born on May 1, 1924, to the late Edna "Grace" (Edison) Echtner and John Echtner. He attended grade school at Stoney Hill School in Thornton and graduated from Shawano High School in 1942. After graduating, he completed Aircraft Mechanic School in California in 1944 and served in the Armed Forces in Western United States. After returning to Wisconsin, Bob opened an airplane mechanic business at the Shawano County Airport. He later went into the restaurant business, building and operating Chef's Inn during the 1950's and later owning and operating Bob's Drive-In on Green Bay Street starting in 1965. Bob was proud to be the first restaurant in Shawano to serve pizza, and for many years he supplied thousands of pizzas each year for the Shawano County Fair.
Bob was a builder of many things. In 1978 he established Homestead Building and Remodeling, Inc., siding, remodeling, or building new homes and business in and around the community until well past the age of 70. He was a "tinkerer" at heart, half engineer, and half mechanic. If you needed some kind of "thing-a-ma-jig" to fix anything in need of repair, he usually had it, or he could fabricate something even better to take its place.
In his younger years, Bob was an avid golfer and tennis player. He was a fierce competitor, often playing tennis against people half his age. He didn't always win, but he always gave you a good game. In retirement, Bob found enjoyment drinking coffee and chatting with the locals at his favorite "Farm Inn Coffee Group".
Bob was united in a marriage to Phyllis Beversdorf on October 12, 1947. They made their home and raised their family in Shawano. They enjoyed working in the restaurant business together and in their free time traveling, both in the states and abroad. He was a long-time member of St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano.
He is survived by his daughters, Susan (Mark) Bystol and Terry (Patrick) Wiley; five grandchildren, Grant (Nicole) Bystol, Kyle (Zuri Miller) Bystol, Jolie (Nathan) Heggeseth, Griffin (Jennifer) Wiley and Jesse Wiley; seven great-grandchildren, Abigail, Natalie and Hallie Bystol, Ruby and Jonah Heggeseth, Cooper and Scout Wiley, along with one on the way. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, sisters and brothers-in-law, as well as numerous other relatives and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis; his mother, Grace Echtner; his father, John Echtner; his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Donna Echtner; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Dorothy and Irvin Kroenke, John Bain, Donald Moesch and Marilyn Beversdorf.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 16, 2023, at Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano with Mr. Richard Menning officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Monday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the ThedaCare Hospice team, Katie, Shannon, Peggy and Audra for their compassionate care these past few months.