Robert Ergi Erickson

Bob Erickson passed away on Thursday, November 23 at Oak Park Place in Menasha. Bob was born in Neenah Wisconsin on November 5, 1937, to William and Agnes (nee Kubiak) Erickson. Bob proudly grew up in Menasha and was a 1956 graduate of Menasha High School. He lettered in football, basketball and tennis. He was the Mid-Eastern Conference tennis champion in 1956 and finished 3rd in the state that year. He was a proud first-team member of sportswriter Bill Jauss' all Northeastern Wisconsin Basketball Squad selected because of his playmaking ability. He was also the News-Record Athlete of the Week during his senior year.
In 1958-59 Bob caught the attention of legendary dribbler Marques Haynes of the Harlem Magicians. After two try out games, Bob accompanied the team on a 50,000-mile journey playing 140 games in over 35 states. He gained recent Internet fame for stealing the ball from the legendary Haynes four times in one game.
In 1960 Bob enrolled in Arizona State University at Flagstaff-now called Northern Arizona University. In basketball, he was usually the high scorer in the freshman game and then would suit up and play in the varsity game. In tennis, he held the number 1 position and finished runner-up in the conference tournament. After one year, Bob retired from college and returned to Wisconsin. Friends enjoyed kidding Bob that he was the author of the one-and-done movement in college basketball.
After returning home, he continued to play basketball. He still holds the Butte des Morts gym one-game scoring record with 67 points while playing for Shell Oil. In tennis, Bob was the Menasha City singles champion 21 out of 25 years. One year he won the Menasha Grand Slam winning the open singles, open doubles, over 35 singles and the mixed doubles titles. He was the number 1 player in Wisconsin in his age division for many years and ranked number 1 in the Midwest five times.
Bob later moved to California and worked for 15 years at the Kimberly-Clark mill in Fullerton. He continued to play in California tournaments and was often ranked in the top 3 in the 50's age division. One season he was ranked in the top ten in the United States in his age division.
Bob also served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was an avid fan of the Packers, Bucks, Badgers, and Brewers. His biggest weakness was Cadillacs. He owned 14 of them-mostly red in color.
Bob was a proud backer of the Blue Jays and donated a new gym scoreboard. He was a frequent visitor to the Menasha Library and donated extra-large screens for all the computers. Bob would like to thank his high school tennis coach Leo Kenney for his guidance. Bob also would like to thank a long list of women who gave him hugs, scratched his back, or just patiently listened to his stories. The list includes the A-Team from Community First Bank, the Menasha Library staff, the ladies from the insurance office and laundromat, the Maplewood teacher, the wait staff at the Stone Toad and other restaurants, the friends at the Fox Cities Racquet Club and many, many more. He would also like to thank the medical staff of St. Elizabeth Hospital and Oak Park Place for their patience and understanding during his final two months.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Dennis. Kessler-Fahrenkrug Funeral Home in Neenah is handling funeral arrangements. Funeral services will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday December 5, 2023, at the Kessler-Fahrenkrug Funeral Home 304 S. Commercial St. Neenah. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until the time of service. Bob's friends are invited after the service to the Stone Toad 1109 Onieda Street Menasha from 5:30-7:30 for food and beverage and to share stories about Ergie.