Robert Clearwater

Robert Clearwater — known affectionately by family and friends as “Bob with one O” — went home to live with our Lord and Savior on June 30, 2023.

Bob was born on the kitchen table of his grandparents’ home in Indianapolis, Ind., on Aug. 20, 1937, to Maurice and Charlene Clearwater.

He graduated in a class of 31 students from Greenwood’s Center Grove High School on May 9, 1955.

On Sept. 17, 1960, he married the love of his life, Judith Norris, at Christ Lutheran Church in Indianapolis.

One month later, Bob was drafted into our U.S. Army and proudly served until he was honorably discharged on Oct. 12, 1966.

After his time serving our country, Bob worked as a salesman for USG Corp. until his retirement in 1998. As the company promoted and transferred Bob, the couple lived for a period of time in Chicago, Ill., and Bethel Park, Penn., until Bob was transferred to the greater Milwaukee region and fell in love with Port Washington, where they settled in 1979.

At the time of his passing, Bob was an active and proud member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington; his roots in church life run deep and are intertwined throughout his life’s journey. Most notably, in the early 1970s, while still living in Indiana, Bob was instrumental in helping his community build Epiphany Lutheran Church and was thanked via a dedication from the board of directors in his favorite Bible that read, “To Bob Clearwater, who quietly directed the building of a church, asking little praise for himself, and in return, receiving much from his Lord.”

Bob was also a member in good standing in the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Wisconsin’s Ozaukee Lodge No. 17, the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Indiana’s Jubilee Lodge No. 746, The Forty & Eight and Van Ellis-Schanen American Legion Post 82. Bob also served as an American Legion Wisconsin state vice commander from 1999 to 2000.

Bob is survived by his two sons, Brian (Christine) Clearwater of Roberts Lake, Wis., and Rob (Jennifer) Clearwater of Port Washington, Wis.

He is further survived by five grandchildren, Trevor, Cassie, Jack, Emily and Paige, his great-granddaughter Molly, his sister Cathy (Larry) LaBonte of Greenwood, Ind., other relatives and many friends.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, wife, his sister Phyllis (Bill) Cantwell of Franklin, Ind., and many other beloved family members and friends.

Visitation will be on July 7, 2023, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. with services starting at 1:30 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 420 W. Whitefish Rd., Port Washington.

He will be laid to rest with military honors next to his beloved wife Judy at Union Cemetery in Port Washington immediately following the services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, www.starsandstripeshonorflight.org.

Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington, is honored to serve the Clearwater family.

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.