Robert Marshall Rauland

On August 27, 2025, surrounded by his family, Robert "Bob" Marshall Rauland (89) of Walworth, WI passed peacefully into the arms of the God he loved so dearly. Born on June 3, 1936 to the late Bernard "George" Rauland and Florence (Marshall) Rauland in Chicago, IL, Bob spent his early years with his family in Berwyn, IL before moving to Fontana, WI. Bob dedicated himself to hard work and service from an early age as an Eagle Scout and in 1950 proudly attended the National Golden Jubilee Scouting Jamboree in Valley Forge, PA. He met his high school sweetheart, Cynthia Lee Cooper, at Walworth High School and graduated in 1954. He attended college earning a business degree and married Cynthia on April 20, 1957. Shortly thereafter, Bob and Cynthia started a family and raised 4 children: Scott, Shari, John and Jeff.

Bob became a licensed independent insurance agent working with Prudential and Travelers Insurance as well as a Real Estate Broker, opening The Rauland Agency Inc. in 1961 in Walworth. He became a successful insurance agent and a real estate legend and one of the most respected and trusted Realtors® in Southeastern Wisconsin across the real estate spectrum for 61 years until his retirement in 2022.

Bob was a member and leader in the Order of the Eastern Star and Masons rising to receive the rare and coveted 33rd Degree lifetime achievement award for exceptional service to the Masons and his community and earning his 50-year certificate in 2009. Bob and Cynthia were also dedicated members of Immanuel United Church of Christ and Whitewater United Church of Christ where Bob served as a Moderator, Board of Trustees member and fundraiser rising to serve at the National UCC level. Bob was also a proud member of the Geneva Lake West Rotary Club for 56 years serving on boards and in leadership, becoming a Paul Harris Fellow and fully embodying the Rotary ideals. He served on countless boards including the Walworth State Bank Board of Directors, Aurora Lakeland Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors, the Gateway Technical College Foundation Board of Directors, the Fairhaven Senior Services Board of Directors and many others and was an incredibly successful and valued fundraiser for many organizations and causes raising funds for area libraries, schools, arts and music programs, wildlife, animals, healthcare, police/fire/rescue and communities and he was instrumental in Kikkoman Foods locating in Walworth and helping other businesses grow and flourish.

Bob was a prolific and award-winning photographer and could always be found with his camera in hand capturing the beauty all around him and all of life's moments both big and small. He loved taking and sharing his photos of birds, butterflies, deer, wildlife, flowers, landscapes, homes, people and special moments and events. He has given out thousands of copies of his iconic moonlight cross photo across the world along with many of his other treasured photos including photos of friends and community events. It would be hard to find anyone in the area who has not received one of Bob's photos along with a note of encouragement, scripture or verse.

To his family, he was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather loving each one of his 4 children, 2 step-children, 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren deeply along with their spouses and extended families and was an honorary father and grandfather to many more. He was loved for his infectious smile, his awesome hugs and being the family encourager as well as consoler-in-chief. He never missed a chance to be the first to sing a loved one Happy Birthday, was the chief mischief-maker and captain of fun. He was the most loving, caring, supportive, forgiving, faithful and Christ-like man. He gave his heart away to every human and animal he met and never missed the chance to make someone's life better. Bob enjoyed traveling the US and world visiting his very international family but many of his fondest memories were of family time at his beloved Buffalo Lake in northern Wisconsin.

When Bob's wife, Cynthia, died of cancer in 2009 after 52 years of marriage, the good Lord blessed Bob with a devoted, soulmate and beloved, second wife, Arlene Long, his high school classmate, to inspire and love him and help him to continue his life's mission to spread love, faith, hope and joy and serve his family and their cherished community. They were married on April 11, 2012 at St. Benedict Catholic Church where they are members and enjoyed a wonderful marriage traveling, enjoying their gardens, birds and wildlife, spending time with family and friends, supporting the community and continuing Bob's mission together…side-by-side and inseparable to the end.

Bob was preceded in death by his Parents and first Wife, Cynthia, and is survived by his Wife: Arlene (Jamieson/Long) Rauland (Walworth); Sister: Sandra Rynne (Walworth), Brother: Earl (Carol) Rauland (Kingsford, MI); Children: Scott (Frances) Rauland (Croatia), Shari (Harry) Mohr (Fontana), John (Christine Heyter) Rauland (Ingelheim, Germany) and Jeff (Amy) Rauland (Frisco, TX); Step-Children: Tammy Long (Clinton), Terrence Long (Walworth); Grandchildren: Patrick (Ren) Rauland (Westminster, CO), Jared (Nicole) Miller (Mountain Lakes, NJ), Alexandra (Cody) Sears (Hong Kong), Jordan (Corbin) Mitchell (Naperville, IL), Amelie Rauland (Cologne, Germany), Anastasia (Cody) Smith (Denver, CO), Erik Rauland (Frisco, TX), Mathis Rauland (Mainz, Germany) and Thomas Rauland (Chemnitz, Germany); and Great-Grandchildren: Liam, Nina and Margot Miller (Mountain Lakes, NJ) and Sawyer Rauland (Westminster, CO).

Visitation will be held on October 9, 2025 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Fontana WI from 4 PM – 8 PM and again at St. Benedict Catholic Church prior to the funeral mass on October 10, 2025 from 9 AM-10:45 AM. The funeral mass will be held on October 10, 2025 at St. Benedict Catholic Church starting at 11 AM. Burial will be private.

It is Bob and his family's strong request that no flowers be given in his honor and that instead you please follow his example and donate your money and time in his honor to three of his favorite organizations: Lakeland Animal Shelter, Fellow Mortals or S.M.I.L.E.S.