Robert R. "Bob" Ehrike, 83, of Cambridge / Whitewater, a creative educator, a life-long learner, an environmentalist, and a passionate runner, crossed the finish line on his life’s journey on May 11, 2026.  He was born on May 10, 1943, in Marshfield, WI to Reinhold Ehrike and Elizabeth (Mueller) Ehrike. 

Always a curious person, he had a zest for learning.  Bob was an Honor Graduate of Marshfield Senior High (1960) and an Honor Graduate of UW-Stevens Point with degrees in both History and Economics (1964).  He received numerous grants and scholarships to continue his studies on campuses throughout the country.  A Wall Street Journal Award in Economics and a National Defense Scholarship for history took him to University of Mississippi for advanced studies.  He next attended the University of Washington and UW-Stevens Point to acquire teaching certification (1964-65).  He was a certified instructor in both Wisconsin and Minnesota.

In 1968, he was awarded a fellowship from the Asians Studies Institute at the University of Hawaii and prior to courses beginning he did missionary work within a Filipino community in Hawaii.  Another scholarship in Finance took him to Marquette University to study.   And in 1971, he entered the Law School at the University of Minnesota.  His knowledge of law, politics, and the justice system were woven into his classrooms throughout his teaching career.

He taught both high school and middle school students American and World history along with Economics, Latin American History, and Political Science.  He found middle school students the most enjoyable and engaged their minds with student centered learning.  His students learned through hands-on activities, role playing, games, debate and field trips.  He took small groups of 8th graders to Washington DC for years to explore history.  He taught in Wausau, Clintonville, South Milwaukee, Cudahay and St. Paul before arriving at Cambridge Nikolay Middle School in 1974.  Besides teaching, Bob was a brilliant statistician for high school football for over 26 years.  He left teaching in 2000 to continue his own education.  

Bob went back to MATC to study Landscape Architecture.  He had for years planted trees creating an 8 acre woodland forest on the Yellow River in Marathon County were he also grew acres of gladiolus bulbs each summer.  He cleaned, planted and harvested around 10,000 bulbs each year and sold his flowers to florists and at street fairs. 

On August 18, 1984, the day he married Mary Ann Graunke, the woman who finally captured his heart and mind, he arrived for the garden ceremony with an additional 500 gladiolus to enrich the already flowering landscape.  Together they continued his love of working in the earth.  He planted another woodland of trees, flowering plants, and greenery around their home.  He also tended a large vegetable garden and strawberry patch.  In the summer, he was outdoors from morning to night carrying buckets of water to trees and plants, hoeing, mowing and cultivating the earth.  Into this home surrounded by growth, they adopted Mary Ann’s two nephews and a niece as young children establishing an instant family.

Bob’s link to nature was complimented by his spiritualism.  Beyond his early missionary work, he was for years the Superintendent of Sunday School at First Congregational Church UCC and loved mentoring confirmation students.  “They that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall take wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” And so it was with Bob.

Bob is survived by his wife through sickness and in health, Mary Ann.  His is further survived by his children Lee Ehrike (Rosanna French) Ohio; Tony Ehrike, (Brianna Mae) Whitewater, and daughter Graywyn, Oregon; Tasha Young (Christopher), Arkansas and children Christopher II, and Nomia Skylar Love, Green Bay; his cousins Paula Hoef, California and Marjorie McDowell, Oregon.  He further survived by his sister-in-law, Julie Hunter, Florida.

Bob’s funeral will be at 11am on Thursday, June 11th at First Congregational Church UCC, Fort Atkinson.  Prior to the service visitation will run from 9am to 11am.  Funeral arrangements are being handled by Dunlap Memorial Home. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Rainbow Hospice, the Whitewater or Cambridge Public Libraries or McPherson Eye Research Institute at UW-Madison, or a charity of your choice.

www.DunlapMemorialHome.com

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