Robert O. Dix

Robert ("Bob" / "Bobby") Oswald (Nicholas) Dix, age 81, of Iola, Wisconsin took his place in heaven with his Savior Jesus on December 22, 2019. He was born June 12, 1938 to Robert C. and Catherine (Pfeffer) Dix. Bob attended grade school at 31st Street and Brown and 9th grade at Steuben Junior High in Milwaukee, WI. Bob graduated from Boys Technology and Trade School and at age 17 he enlisted into the Army National Guard. Bob served 8 years (May, 1956-March, 1964) in the army including annual training at Fort McCoy and active duty in Fort Lewis (now McChord Air Force Base) in Washington as a military police officer.
Bob courted his wife, Jean admiring her sitting on the front porch of her house as he made his way to his paper route. Their marriage proposal was more of an ultimatum that left Jean with no option than to marry Bob and on April 25th, 1959 Bob married Jean Ann Colwell at Sherman Park Lutheran Church. They honored this ultimatum for 60 years until Bob's passing. Bob was a letter carrier for the United States Post Office for 31 years. He took great pride in his work earning two superior achievement awards, "Carrier of the Month", and he credits Jean's ironing for his best dressed carrier award. Upon his retirement, Bob and Jean moved to Iola, WI to take in the good life. He enjoyed wood working almost year round in his heated garage; he loved to take his pontoon boat out for a "lake cruise", and took pleasure in sharing his "up north" blessings with visitors. Even in his later years, as his mobility became more of challenge, he managed (with the help of great neighbors) to mow the island, pick up sticks, and plow snow.
Bob was baptized and confirmed catholic. In 1967 he celebrated adult confirmation in the Lutheran faith. He was active in both his home church in Milwaukee (Mt. Lebanon Ev. Lutheran) and in Iola, WI (Redeemer Ev. Lutheran) serving on the school board, finance committee, church council, and as a trustee, an elder and church treasurer. Bob always said, "I'm not afraid to die…. I'm just not signing up". He was firm in his saving faith and certain of his eternity in heaven. Bob leaves behind his wife, Jean; daughter Wendy (Jeff) Schroeder (Phoenix, AZ); son, Robert W. (Kim) Dix (Adell, WI); grandchildren, Lacy Dix, Carly Schroeder, Ben (Shannon) Schroeder, Andrew (Claudia) Schroeder; 2 step grandchildren Ashleigh (Brock) Kraemer, and Josh (Claire) Cadwell; and 5 great grandchildren, Kennedy Kraemer, Evie and Rosie Schroeder, and Silas and Maddox Cruz. He is further survived by his brother-in-law, Alfred Wilcox; brother-in-law, Aubrey Vickers, sister-in-law, Sharon (Dwight) Byers, nieces, and nephews, neighbors and friends. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his sister-in-law Joan Vickers, and his sister, Nancy Wilcox.
Visitation for Bob will be on Saturday, December 28th at Redeemer Ev. Lutheran Church (125 North Street, Iola, WI 54945) from 10am-11am. A Memorial service will follow at 11am.
Bob had a firm commitment to decency and order, and a repertoire of silly jokes and sayings. In his words, Bob would say "It was a GREAT life…load 'em up…. That's all I got….LATER!"