Robert Glenn Splies 1925 - 2010

Robert Glenn Splies, PhD, of Cottonwood found eternal peace at Verde Valley Medical Center on Wednesday, December 22, 2010. He was 85.

Bob was born on October 2, 1925 in Bird Island, Minnesota, to the Reverend Frank and Florence L. (McKee) Splies. He spent his childhood in Daggett, Michigan, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Lake Auburn, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin, ultimately earning a PhD in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin in 1951.

On June 21, 1952 he married Lorraine M Grotjahn in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Together they lived in Madison, Wisconsin, Syracuse, New York, and Grand Forks, North Dakota before returning to Wisconsin.

For more than 25 years, he taught Organic Chemistry at several UW campuses. Upon his retirement in 1988, Bob was awarded Professor Emeritus status by the UW Board of Regents.

Bob and Lorraine moved to Cottonwood in 1996 where they enjoyed exploring the West in their RV. In addition to RVing, Bob enjoyed fishing, woodworking, crossword puzzles, math games, performing magic tricks and rooting for the Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers and Detroit Lions. He was an active member of Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church.

In addition to his wife, Bob is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Joe Peil, grandsons: Owen, Shane, Loden and Riley, all of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant twin brother Roger, and brother; the Reverend Richard D. Splies.

A memorial service will be held on January 21, 2011 at the Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church at 2:30 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Spirit of Joy Building fund, 101 S. Main St., Suite D, Cottonwood, Arizona. 86326

Information provided by survivors.


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