Robert W. Hutchings

Appleton - Robert W. ‘Bob” Hutchings,97, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at St. Elizabeth Hospital. He was born May 7, 1928 in Portage, WI., the only son of Bertha (Vorbeck) and Robert D. Hutchings. Robert graduated from Portage High School in 1946 and attended UW-Madison and the University of Minnesota earning a BA in Architecture in 1952. He was a proud brother in the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He enlisted in the US Air Force and served from 1953 to 1955. He married his southern sweetheart, Connie Jean Bufkin, in 1955.

After his military service, he worked for Inland-Ryerson Construction Company until his retirement in 1986. Living in New Orleans, LA. and then Brookfield, WI., he held positions as Project Engineer, Sales Engineer, and Project Manager. He took great pride and satisfaction in all the building projects he was involved in.

He was a member of Brookfield Presbyterian Church and Brookfield Kiwanis. Throughout his retirement years he enjoyed golfing, fishing, antique-hunting at estate sales with Connie, refinishing furniture, and refinishing and repairing old clocks. He spent hours in his basement workshop inventing gadgets and fixing things. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix. He was a Packer and Badger fan, and never missed watching the Indianapolis 500. Most notably, he was a devoted caregiver and advocate for Connie throughout her many health challenges.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Connie, in 2014, and by his much-loved son, Robert Gregory, in 1972.

Known as ‘Papa’ to all his family, he is survived by his daughter Leslie (Jeffery) Schroeder; his grandsons that he was immensely proud of, Greg (Katie) Schroeder, Colin (Christin) Schroeder, and Chris (Brittany) Schroeder; great-grandchildren – the joy of his heart – Melanie, Mitchell, Madelyn, Lucy, Silas, Micah, and Holden. Many close cousins and relatives, friends, and his dearest friend in recent years, Sally.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 5, at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St., Appleton, WI. With Pastor Brandon Hilstad officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service from 9 to 11 a.m. Family only interment will be Saturday, December 6, at Silver Lake Cemetery, Portage, WI.