Robert C. Hougard

Robert C. Hougard, Green Bay, passed away peacefully at Unity Hospice, in DePere, WI on October 21, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was 86 years old. The son of the late George M. and Cora A. (Hansen) Hougard was born on January 17, 1938.

Bob was the youngest of four siblings and graduated from St. Johns Military Academy in Delafield, WI, the Class of 1958. He was a member of the Junior R.O.T.C., rifle, crew and football teams and later served on their Board of Directors.

After graduation, Bob served in the U.S. Army Reserve for eleven years while returning home to Green Bay and continued his career at George M. Hougard & Sons (Hougard Construction) as a crane and heavy equipment operator. Bob liked to joke he worked there since birth, as the third generation of the family construction business.

On March 4, 1961, he married Karen J. (Gosch) Hougard at Grace Lutheran Church. Robert and Karen started their family in Green Bay. 

Bob worked with his father George and brother Howard on the construction of the "New City Stadium" in 1957, now named Lambeau Field. In 1969, Bob assumed leadership of operations for Hougard Construction. He became President and CEO in 1983, taking over the company from his brother. He then became Chairman in 1994 when he sold the company to his son, Robert C. Hougard Jr. and continued in that role until 2004.

Bob served on many boards throughout his career, including Hougard Construction, Hougard Investments, Green Bay Botanical Garden, National Railroad Museum, St. Johns Military Academy, Woodlawn Cemetery, and Association of General Contractors-Wisconsin. Bob also leant a helping hand to many other organizations throughout the community.

God blessed Bob with the skills of a "Master Builder" serving the community he lived in, in Green Bay and throughout Northeast Wisconsin, building schools, university buildings, libraries, museums, churches, private offices, and manufacturing facilities. A few most notable projects: Lambeau Field, Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame, Green Bay Botanical Garden Visitor Center, National Railroad Museum Lenfestey Center, Neville Public Museum, Brown County Library, Green Bay Southwest High School, Ashwaubenon High School, St. Norbert College- Abbot Pennings Hall of Fine Arts, St. Norbert College - Coffrin Hall, Wisconsin Public Service-Operations Center, Austin Straubel Field-Terminal Expansion, Green Bay Convention Center, St. Bernard Catholic Church, St. Elizabeth Seaton Church, as well as major additions to Door County Medical Center, Bellin Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital, and St. Vincent Hospital.

Bob was proud of his Danish heritage as all his grandparents immigrated from Denmark. His grandfather (brick and stone mason by trade) settled in Suring, WI where he and his wife established a homestead under the Homestead Act of 1862, and started farming and the construction business, building homesteads, schools, and churches.

Bob was known for his kindness and sense of humor, quick wit, and wisdom. He valued all his employees and business associates over the years. He enjoyed sailing in the bay of Green Bay, his tree farm in Oconto County, and the great outdoors and wildlife. He became a member of the American Tree Farm System in the late 1960's. Bob was a conservationist before it ever became en vouge. 

Bob could be frequently found at the Bay Family Restaurant for breakfast/lunch or dinner at Sammy's Pizza (which he built) spending time with his friends and family, where he would catch up on things going on in the community.

Bob is survived by his three children: son, Robert C. Jr. (Susan) Hougard of Delafield, WI; grandchildren, John (Deena) Hougard, Thomas, Irene, Cora (Braden) Lowe, and four great grandchildren. He is further survived by two daughters, Heather J. Hougard of Green Bay, WI and grandson Seth; Julie A. (Shawn) Krueger of Green Bay, WI and grandchildren Laura (Josh) Last, David Krueger, and two great grandchildren.

He is further survived by his in-laws, Mary Lou (Gosch) Koenck of Wall Lake, IA, Walter Krapff of Rochester Hills, MI, and Roger (Buz) Rathburn of Boulder, CO, and other members of his extended family.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife Karen (Gosch) Hougard; parents, George M. and Cora A. Hougard; his siblings, Howard G. Hougard, and sisters: Florence Hougard, Beverly (Hougard) Borden, and Katherine (Hougard) Rathburn; and other extended family members and dear friends.

A private family funeral service will be held at Pilgrim Congregational Church. Interment will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Friends and extended family will hold a Celebration of Life at the Green Bay Botanical Garden (2600 Larsen Rd, Green Bay, WI 54303) on May 23rd, 2025. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Green Bay Botanical Garden GBBG-Children's Gardening Program, Autism Society of Northeast Wisconsin, Unity Hospice or plant a tree.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Bob’s amazing caregiver staff at Woodside Lutheran Home and Unity Hospice.