Robert Bellin

1929 - 2017

Robert Bellin

Neenah - Robert A. Bellin went home peacefully to Heaven on Wednesday, December 27, 2017, at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center, surrounded by family members.

Robert was born on October 26, 1929, son of the late Lawrence and Frieda (Schoenian) Bellin in Neenah, Wisconsin.

He had attended Trinity Lutheran School of Neenah, and was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in 1943. He graduated from Neenah High School in 1947. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Neenah.

Robert learned to help with farming at a very young age. At the age of 16, he went to live on his own at his Grandfather Albert Bellin's farm, on Congress Street in Neenah, to take on the responsibility of farming after his Grandfather became ill.

Although his father, Lawrence Bellin, guided and helped along the way, it was Robert who got up early to do the milking and the chores before school, and who repeated these chores after school.

Upon graduating from high school, he remained a farmer at his Grandfather's property.

He helped a number of the neighboring farmers in Neenah when it was "Threshing Time." Although it was work, it was also a time when people came together to help one another harvest their crops. When telling stories about it, one could tell he enjoyed doing that.

His sister, Elaine, was the one who introduced Robert to the love of his life, Audrey.

He married Audrey Blodgett (from Kewanee, IL) at Grace Lutheran Church of Neenah, on November 24, 1951.

In 1955, a nearly 120 acre farm on Oakridge Road in Neenah was purchased, where Robert remained in the farming trade for years. After 62 years of living on that farm, Robert and Audrey were able to sell the farm this year, as they proceeded to move into Assisted Living at Island Shores in Neenah. Last month, they celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary.

In his younger years he enjoyed duck hunting, fishing, and swimming. He also liked deer hunting with his sons on the family farm. Sometimes he would take his family to the cottage on Lake Winneconne for a late night swim, often followed by a treat at McDonalds back in Neenah. Wagon rides for a picnic in the woods would also be enjoyed during the summer.

Robert truly enjoyed family time, telling stories, and sharing personal experiences that were interesting. He enjoyed bird watching out his kitchen window, he liked talk radio, and keeping up on the latest news. He kept track of political issues. He also loved to read. He enjoyed walks down the lane to the woods with his dogs over the years. He so loved the farm and all it had to offer, not only to him but to his family. He was also able to provide his children with a Christian education so they would know God. Out of all his accomplishments, he was proud to put that at the top of his list.

He looked forward to seeing and hearing about what his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were doing.

His family feels blessed to have had him in our lives as long as we did. A piece of him will always live on in our hearts.

Survivors include his wife Audrey; seven children: Linda Demerath(James), Neenah; Michael (Nichole Vincelet), Winneconne; Susan Flemming (Robert), Neenah; Richard (Deb), Larsen; Amelia Klinka (Gary), Neenah; Paul (Sharon), Neenah; Gerald (Jennifer); 13 Grandchildren: David Demerath, Diana Clapp (Chris), Brian Demerath (Alyssa), Elizabeth Pomares (Luis), John Bellin (Tammy), Eileen Harwood (Chris), Audrey Flemming, Lawrence Bellin(Trista Jacobs), Lydia Petrack (Jon), Trisha and Ryan Klinka, Joshua and Gina Bellin; and 12 Great Grandchildren: Jackson, Eleanor, and Abraham Harwood, Leah and Ian Pomares, Brooke and Noah Demerath, Jonathon Petrack, Jacob Clapp, Brian Jr. Demerath, Oliver Bellin, and Marshall Bellin

He is also survived by his sister, Elaine Vancil (Bill Schramm), and sister- in-law, Shirley Brock.

He is further survived by his many cousins, nieces, and nephews, whom he loved dearly.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Helen Fahrenkrug ; brothers-in-law, Edmund Fahrenkrug and Ronald Vancil; and his niece, Julie Fahrenkrug; his mother and father- in-law, Mabel and William Blodgett, and 11 of his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Robert's family would like to extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Theda Care Hospital for the loving comfort and care they brought to him and our family.

We'd also like to express our gratitude to the caregivers at Home Aid Health Care, with whose help, enabled my parents to stay in their home on the farm for as long as they did. The family would also like to thank Dad's friend, Amos Ihde, and his son Joe, for their help throughout the years.

A special thank you goes out to Jennifer Bellin for giving Robert his "blanket of love" where on it his family and friends could write comments, draw pictures, and sign their name.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1390 Breezewood Ln, Neenah, Rev. Richard Frost officiating. A visitation will be held at church from 9:00 A.M. until the hour of service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Larsen-Winchester Lions Club in Robert's name.

Westgor Funeral Home

Neenah 722-7151

Condolences: www.westgorfuneralhomes.com