Robert P. “Bob” Cauwels

Robert P. “Bob” Cauwels, 86, passed away on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at Hillcrest Home, Geneseo. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 1st, 2022, at 10 a.m. at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Geneseo, IL. Father Daniel Gifford will officiate. Burial will follow at St Anthony Catholic Cemetery in Atkinson, IL. Visitation will be held at Vandemore Funeral Home – Geneseo Chapel on Friday, September 30, 2022, from 5-7 pm. Recitation of the Rosary will be held prior to visitation at 4:30 pm. Deacon Art Ries will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to St Malachy Catholic Church, St Malachy Catholic School, The University of Iowa Hospitals or donors’ charity of choice.

Robert Phillip “Bob” Cauwels was born April 12, 1936, the son of Theophil and Julia (Claeys) Cauwels. He attended Munson Center elementary and St. Malachy Catholic School and graduated from Geneseo High School in 1954. He enlisted in the Army in October 1955, serving 28 months in Germany. Bob was honorably discharged in 1962 and served in the reserves after active duty. He married Mary Ellen Windy on June 6, 1959, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Atkinson.

He farmed for many years and later was employed at Osco Fertilizer, the City of Geneseo and various jobs, retiring from Wyffels Hybrids in 2004.

Bob is a member of St. Malachy Catholic Church. He enjoyed his family, grandchildren’s activities, golf, NASCAR racing, baseball, poker group and coffee with the guys. Bob is a 75 year member of the Catholic Order of Foresters.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Mary Ellen, sons, Todd (Teresa) Cauwels, and Scott (Christine) Cauwels and daughters, Robin (Patrick) Colo and Tracy (Douglas) Ford. His grandchildren are Nathaniel (Janel) Cauwels, Jason (Amy) Colo, Brett (Krista) Ford, Ashley (Justin) Gray, Craig (Dayna) Ford, Chad Ford, Emily Ford, Sophia Cauwels, Philip Cauwels, Ella Cauwels and step-granddaughter, Brandy (Jared) McNall. He has 20 great-grandchildren, sister, Elsie DeClercq, sister-in-law, Jeannene Blocklinger-Hale and brother-in-law Jim Windy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Phil and Julia, three sisters, Clara (Roy) Verbeck, Irene Flake, Catherine (Bob) Gustafson, and brothers-in-law, James Blockinger, John Hale, and John DeClercq.