![]() The WormSoakers proceeds were donated to breast cancer research. He served as President, CEO, CFO and official “Big Worm” of the club. Each year, Bob organized the WormSoakers fishing group which has hosted a fishing trip in Northern Wisconsin for 26 years. He was also a Knights Templar and Shriner. Bob was a proud Mason just as his father and grandfather before him. Born on July 26, 1943, in Rockford, the son of William and Helen (Darnell) Bell. Bell, 75, MM, of Rockford, died on June 6, 2019. Memorials are preferred to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 N. and on Friday, June 14, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Visitation will be on Thursday, June 13, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Predeceased by his parents and his brother-in-law, Richard Ridout. Bob was survived by his wife, Judith children, Teresa Walden, Melissa (Jeffrey) Lewis, Charlie (Carol) Bell, Cara (Thomas) Creamer, and Laura Bergeson grandchildren, Adam (Heather), Austin, Emily, Mariah (Aaron), Kathryn, Rebekah, Zachary, Abigail, Linnea, Robbie, Gracelynn, Isabella, Alex, Olivia, Bryanna, Dezirae, and Izaac great-grandchildren, Rosalind and Elliot sister, Sue Ann Ridout and step-siblings, Gary Hampton, Sheryl Hampton Bolick, and Brian Hampton. He started with Aetna, then Camlin Insurance Agency, and finally launched Robert C. In 1976 he started his second career in insurance. He was proud of his work as a machinist and enjoyed playing in a local softball league. After graduating Rockford East High School, Bob took a job with Special Machine Co. His longest-running friendship was with Gary Witkowski, who worked with Bob at the Piggly Wiggly when they were both 15 years old. Not many people keep friends from high school into their 70’s, but Bob did. ![]() When he was not on the road, he made it a priority to spend time with a regular breakfast club and several weekly lunch buddies. One memorable legacy is the gift Bob gave to his children and grandchildren: for 25 years they spent a week in Wisconsin every year to fish, swim, and relax as a big family. When Bob was home, he loved his extensive garden and his colorful bird feeders. He spent almost as much time in Wisconsin lakes as he did in Illinois, and he made at least one fishing trip to Sandy Beach Lodge in Canada every year. Anyone who knew Bob knew how important fishing was to him. He started and continued to organize the Annual Fishing Garage Sale to support the pier, and later to support scholarships for local high school fishing club members. Bob was instrumental in raising funds and building the accessible fishing pier operated by the Rockford Park District. Groups included the Rockford Cosmopolitan, Venetian, LLL and Lombardi Clubs. Bob’s connection to Rockford area social and civic groups was too extensive to catalog. ![]() He actively supported Coon Creek Casters, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, Rock Valley Anglers and various outdoor and recreation groups.
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