Robert (Bob) L. Clarner
November 27, 1934 – July 1, 2026

Bob passed away peacefully at the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Home in DeKalb, Illinois.

He was born to Edward and Eleanor (Shott) Clarner on November 27, 1934 and was the sixth of eight siblings. He was the last one of his siblings to pass. Bob attended Sycamore schools and graduated in 1952. After graduation he attended Moler Barber College in Chicago, Illinois in 1954.

In 1957 he was drafted into the United States Army and did his Basic Training at Fort Lee in Virginia. After serving two years in the Army he joined
the then returned home and started his barbering career in DeKalb, Illinois and then he joined his brother-in-law, Bernie McMillan in Sycamore and was a barber there for over 50 years. The shop was on State Street in Sycamore until he moved to his own shop on California Street. He retired in 2012. He had the pleasure of giving many young men their first haircuts. Bob also had his Realtor's License. He sold houses under Towne & Country Realty which was owned by his brother-in-law.

He met and married his wife Marlene (Boots) Milton on March 30, 1957. They had many adventures together to the Casinos in Iowa, Las Vegas and Elko Nevada, they would spend time up in Wisconsin at Lake Delavan and golf outings with friends. The two of them loved to dance. They would glide across the dance floor at weddings and any public event where there was music. They spent many nights playing cards with his sisters and their husbands.

He would also go to the Vet's club and play Euchre every other Sunday. Bob would make his daily trip uptown to buy a newspaper and lottery tickets. Although he hardly ever won any significant amount he was always on the hunt for that big jackpot.

He was a member of the Sycamore Vets Club, the Sycamore Elks and at one time the Sycamore Moose.

Bob is survived by his daughter Sharon (Jim) Lyon of Sycamore and son David (Helen) of Waldorf, Maryland. He also has four grandchildren, April (Daniel) O'Connell, Brandon Lyon, Heather O'Brien and Kyle O'Brien. He has five great-grandchildren, Thomas O'Connell, Benjamin O'Connell, Aiden Hinson, Mikayla Rowell and Lincoln Gilboy and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife Boots and his step-son Roger O'Brien, his parents and his siblings, Carolyn (Ozzie) Davis, Bud (Agnes) Clarner, Alice (Bernie) McMillan, Ken (Norma) Clarner, Betty (Rabbit) Mathey, Sally Clarner and Marilyn Quitno.

Visitation will be held at Butala Funeral Home in Sycamore on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 starting at  10:30 am-12:30 pm.   The funeral service will begin at 12:30 pm.   Interment will follow at the Elmwood Cemetery.

There will be a luncheon afterwards at the Sycamore Elks Club.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Home for their
excellent care of Bob.

To sign the online guest book, go to www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com