Robert "Bob" Ertmer

Robert (Bob) Ertmer, age 90, of Elizabeth, Illinois passed away Sunday, November 10, 2019. His family will hold private services to honor his life. A memorial has been established in his memory to benefit the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Elizabeth Historical Society. Memorials may be sent to 202 W. Main St., Elizabeth, IL 61028.

Robert was born October 24, 1929 on the family farm near Elizabeth, the son of George and Anna (Becker) Ertmer. He attended the Terrapin Ridge Country School and the Elizabeth High School, graduating with the Class of 1948. During this time and until enlisting in the service, he worked for various area farmers, as well as running the family farm. On June 14, 1958, Robert married Carlene Dittmar. They raised seven children and celebrated sixty-one years of marriage.

Robert enlisted in the US Airforce in 1951 during the Korean War, serving as a Military Police Officer with Top Secret Clearance until 1955 when he was honorably discharged. He was proud of his service and remained active throughout his life in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He started with the US Postal Service in 1957 as a clerk in Elizabeth. He also served as a rural carrier in Elizabeth, Hanover and Freeport. He retired in 1984 as the Hanover Postmaster. Robert repaired, restored and refinished furniture and buildings. He also had a painting business, often with a long waiting list, that continued full time for many years after retirement. He believed in always charging a fair price and that a handshake was the only contract needed.

As someone living through the depression, he learned to take advantage of the endless possibilities the land and hard work could provide. With his wife and kids, they managed their 12-acre farm, raising animals and growing anything from vegetables to fruit trees to provide for their family. He was even an avid beekeeper. They not only provided for their family but provided much for neighbors and the community through many dozens of farm fresh eggs or quarts of freshly picked strawberries. Having the children take part in the daily operations of the farm was his way of instilling his values of work ethic and integrity into his future generations to come.

Woodworking was one of Robert’s many talents and hobbies, working with his hands to make many cherished family heirlooms, repairing antiques, and building bird houses and miniature log cabins, just to name a few. He enjoyed fishing with “the guys,” taking several trips to Canada, Missouri and Wisconsin, and with his grandchildren, teaching them about life. Robert and Carlene loved spending time together, bird watching, traveling, bowling, and raising a family. He especially treasured his grandchildren. He enjoyed watching their sporting events, giving rides on his tractors and playing Uno and euchre, where he taught them to always hold the ace of spades. He loved reading anything historical and volunteered with the Elizabeth Historical Society. In his later years, there was always a jigsaw puzzle spread out on the dining room table. He started his day with the paper’s crossword puzzle and ended his day with his only medication - a gin martini with olives at 4:30 (“Tooni time”) - while watching the evening news and Wheel of Fortune.

Throughout his life, Robert was active in the community and most people knew him simply as Bob. He was a member of the Catholic Church of St. Mary in Elizabeth and the Elizabeth-Hanover VFW and American Legion. Through those organizations, he provided opportunities for several students to attend Illinois Boys State, as well as play Legion baseball.
Robert will be dearly missed by his wife, Carlene of Elizabeth; seven children, William “Bill” (Sue) Ertmer of Scales Mound, Kevin (Brenda) Ertmer of Elizabeth, Tim (Tonya) Ertmer of Elizabeth, Joy Ertmer of Elizabeth, Jane (Greg) Hulstedt of Belvidere, Steve (Sheila) Ertmer of Elizabeth and Jenny (Joe) Duey of Tega Cay, South Carolina; eighteen grandchildren; three great-grandchildren with one on-the-way; and two brothers, Alvin Ertmer of Elizabeth and Marion Ertmer of Wake Forest, North Carolina. Robert is preceded in death by his parents; two children at birth; three brothers, Eugene, Raymond and Delbert; and three brothers-in-law, John, Dean and Dave.