Robert M. Fernholz

Robert Michael Fernholz, 74, died May 1, 2025, from complications of Stage IV metastatic lung cancer.

Robert was born February 26, 1951, the 3rd child of Joseph and Leone (Crampton) Fernholz, in Arcadia. He graduated from Arcadia High School in 1969, then left his beloved “hills” to attend first UW-Stout, then UW-Madison. He stayed in Madison for most of the rest of his life, maintaining his relationships with his old, loyal friends from his Arcadia life and making new ones with co-workers and friends in Madison. Robert cherished his many friends and thought of them as family. He was thoughtful, kind, empathetic, and generous with his skills. He delighted in being able to help his friends and, especially, his family.

Robert was an excellent pool player, a less skillful Euchre player, and a decent golfer. In his younger days, he did all of that and also played softball and basketball. He loved his home, playing pool (especially with his son, Joe), UW sports, his retirement job mowing fairways, and talking with his grandkids, Connor and Amelia (the joy of his life), grilling chicken, frying bacon, hosting Thanksgiving, sitting by the pool while listening to the Brewers game, and the camaraderie he found in his favorite haunts, Licari’s and Pitcher’s Pub, where he could talk for hours - and his occasional snark was legendary.

Robert was much loved and will be dearly missed. He is survived by his wife of twenty years, Kathie (Buechner); his son, Joseph of Madison; daughter, Erika (Tim) Nagorske of Windom, MN; and their mother, Angelika Fernholz of Madison; stepson, Andrew (Trevyn) Lindgren of Denver, CO; stepdaughter, Carrie (Tad) Preston of Madison; grandchildren: Connor and Amelia; his sister, Mary Jo (George) Bichler of Port Washington, WI, and their children: Tricia and Molly; a brother, John (Diane) of Holmen; sister-in-law, Suzy Joyce; niece, Karen Mitchel; nephews: Joe, Steve, and extra-special nephew James; and special cousins: Joanne and Ruth, both of California.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and by his cousins: Donna and Dick. Bob wanted no funeral. Instead, he asked that his friends and family gather for a celebration of “a life well-lived” at Licari’s Bar & Grill, 1405 Emil St., Madison, WI, at 1:00 p.m., on Sunday, June 1, 2025. “I had a good run.”

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service, 3325 E. Washington Ave. Madison (608) 249-6666 Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com.