Robert Hopkins Zerkle

Robert Hopkins Zerkle, 87, of Cambridge, slipped away quietly in the early morning hours of Thursday, June 27th 2013 at Fort Memorial Hospital after spending the day with his family.

The son of Evart and Leigh (Smith) Zerkle, Bob was born September 25, 1925 in Madison and grew up in Fort Atkinson. His parents and a sister, Suzanne, preceded him in death. He married Lois Martin in 1957 and is survived by Lois and their son, Greg (Cynthia Marty) Zerkle, who works in show business in Los Angeles, CA, sister-in-law Elaine (Martin) Syverson, brother-in-law Virgil Martin, nieces Linda (Martin) Miller and Vicki (Martin) Freeman, all of Iowa and nephews Russell Edwin Martin and Roger L. Martin of Virginia.

After attending Fort Atkinson High School in the early 1940s, Bob moved to Milwaukee to attend vocational school as an apprentice pattern maker (making wood patterns for industrial metal castings). A lifelong love affair with woodworking began when his father taught him woodcarving. An abiding interest in all things mechanical and a love for speed led to a brief detour as a Harley-Davidson motorcycle mechanic, but he soon found his true calling.

Returning home he worked with his father at Creamery Package in Lake Mills until signing on with Madison Pattern Works and then back to Fort Atkinson again where he joined James Foundry as a Master Pattern Maker. When the foundry closed he successfully opened his own pattern shop in the Lake Ripley home he built himself.

A former Boy Scout, Bob served as a Scout leader, working with Lloyd Dillon to revitalize Troop 41 in Cambridge. He went camping, hiking and canoeing and taught woodcarving for the Boy Scouts and the 4-H Club, inspiring students with chains carved from a single piece of wood, animals, birds and peach pits transformed into baskets, pitchers and monkeys.

Bob loved to drive which fueled his passion for travel. Starting with a tent and a car-top carrier on a Ford Country Squire and progressing to a pickup truck camper, the family visited 48 states, Canada and Mexico. Destinations included Disneyland and 5 Worlds Fairs - beginning with New York in 1965 - with stops en route to view museums, battlefields, historical sites and factories - documenting the trips on 35mm slides. Along the way he traced the family tree back to the Mayflower. He avoided air travel for sixty years - finally flying to Washington, D.C. when his son performed at The Kennedy Center.

Loquacious and engaging, his bright blue eyes twinkled with a genuine interest in people, marveling at what they made and how they made it. He never met anyone who wasnt worth his time. In addition to woodcarving, his endless hobbies included motorcycles, boats, hunting, fishing, photography and, most importantly, music. He was largely self-taught, playing the accordion, harmonica and organ by ear.

He always had a jackknife in his pocket and wood shavings in his pant cuffs. He watched woodworking shows and spoke of getting back in the shop to the last. His heaven will have an endless supply of clear lumber, sharp tools and someone to swap stories with.

Thanks to the caring folks of Our House Senior Living, Cambridge; Golden Living, Fort Atkinson; and the terrific staff of Fort Memorial Hospital.

Memorial gifts will benefit Alzheimers Research and a Pattern Maker Apprentice Program to be determined. Contributions may be sent to: The Robert Zerkle Memorial Fund c/o Badger Bank 102 W Main St. Cambridge, WI 53523.

A celebration of Bobs life is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of October 5th, 2013 at the Hoard Historical Museum in Fort Atkinson.

The Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson is assisting the family.

Online condolences available at www.dunlapmemorialhome.com

.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert Hopkins Zerkle, please visit our floral store.