Robert Russell Whitmer- What a Life!

Our family honors the wonderful life of Robert Russell Whitmer. Bob was born on March 12, 1934 (the birthday of the Girl Scouts!) He was an incredible husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. He peacefully passed away on September 13, 2026, in his home, lovingly surrounded by his four children.

Raised in Chicago and Barrington, Illinois, Bob was the son of Loretta Whitmer/Ecklund (Overheu) and Gale Whitmer; brother to Gale II (Doc); grandson to Maggie and Charlie Whitmer, and Sally and Bill Overheu. Bob was a 1952 graduate of Barrington High School and excelled in athletics and friendships. Bob/”Whit” was the QB of the football team, and along with his best friends, led them to the 1950 and 1951 conference championships. Those friendships lasted 75 years.

Bob attended Coe College twice, leaving once for the Army where he served from 1954-56 in Fairbanks, Alaska. Shortly upon returning, he met the love of his life, Virginia Lindoerfer, and they married in 1957- a love that lasted 68 wonderful years! Together, they returned to Coe where Bob earned a degree in education in 1960. Their stories of their “poor but in-love college years” are some of the sweetest.

Bob and Ginny settled in South Elgin, Illinois, and Bob taught Social Studies at Ellis Middle School in Elgin. He was a beloved teacher and story teller for over 30 years, and his children all have stories of meeting former students who extolled Mr. Whitmer’s positive impact on their lives.

With great love, Bob and Ginny raised four children, Juli (Brian Wallace), Lisa (Andy Bouque), Laurie (Kevin Schweitzer), and Chuck (Anna Whitmer). “Growing up Whitmer” with Bob at the helm meant backyard sledding, skating and hockey on the Fox River, “Jaws” in the pool each summer, baseball and his “crooked finger ball,” fort-building, “jump-over-monster,” camping and canoeing, and Model-A rides; he made every day an adventure! Oh, and the stories: The Golden Arm, The Legend of Sam McGee, and the Lone Ranger, all told in Bob’s low, buttery voice.

Camping and traveling was a love for Bob and Ginny. Every fall, they’d hook up the camper and expose the kids to the glorious fall colors, riding bikes and hiking through Wisconsin and Minnesota. In the spring, it was Florida and Panama City Beach. The early summer years were spent in a cabin on Lake Namakagon, WI. In later years, the two of them traveled the country in their truck camper, visiting faraway friends and seeing new sites. Bob’s greatest adventure and passion, however, was canoeing and portgaging the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Quetico. He was introduced to the area while on a high school football trip, then paddled the quiet waters every summer with his family. The BWCA was a love for Bob that lasted over 70 years. We’re pretty sure he and Mom are there now.

Bob adored his seven grandchildren, Josie, Zack, Jake, Maggie, Jack, Elli, and Evvi. Gramps made their days an adventure: sneaking ‘black cows’ at night without grandma knowing, imitating “Lone Ranger” radio broadcasts, making them “take the wheel” while driving, serving lunch in the pool on innertubes, giving golf cart rides with accompanying spooky stories, playing 20 Questions, and never missing a soccer or volleyball game or band concert. Gramps was always their super fun super fan.

Bob was such a positive force in our lives. We will miss his smile, his warm voice, his hugs, the twinkle in his eye, his joy for life and the people in it, and above all, his way of letting us know what really matters- family, nature, kindness, acceptance and love. Bob made the world a better place.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia, his brother, Doc, his mother, Loretta, his father, Gale, and his step-father, Carl.

A Memorial will be held in his honor on October 17th from 12-3 at The Grumpy Goat restaurant in the Highlands Golf Course in Elgin. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider donating to Friends of the Boundary Waters at https://www.friends-bwca.org/

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