Robert Reid
Robert taught speech, drama, rhetoric and English classes, directed plays and coached boys’ freshman and JV basketball, boys’ varsity volleyball and mock trial teams at Baraboo High School for 34 years. In 1984 Robert founded The Adams County Pickler, a manufacturer and purveyor of assorted homemade pickles, salsas and relishes. His company’s motto was “If it doesn’t move, I’ll pickle it.” After retiring from the Baraboo School District, Robert taught college courses at the UW Baraboo/Sauk County campus and its program at the Federal Correctional Institution at Oxford, Wisconsin.
Robert was preceded in death by the love of his life, his beloved wife of nearly 29 years, Grace. He is survived by his granddaughter, Morgan Meinecke-McConnell (Jeffrey McConnell) and stepdaughter, Stacy (Brian) Meinecke. In his final year Robert became great-grandfather to baby Grace Meinecke-McConnell, daughter of Morgan and Jeffrey. Stacy, Morgan, and baby Grace traveled from Indiana to be with him on his last day. Morgan was grateful that Robert had an opportunity to meet his late wife’s namesake, because she dearly loved her grandfather.
Robert also celebrated his recent reconnection with Paula (Kevin) Lucius and Kris (Mike) Mueller, stepdaughters from a prior relationship, who shared treasured photo albums from their childhood with him.
Robert also leaves behind the dear companion of his last nearly 14 years following his wife’s death, Dr. Doris Wight, with whom he enjoyed many local dining excursions and extended trips to San Francisco, Rhode Island, Colorado, the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Minnesota, and more.
Robert wrote condescendingly of himself that he will be “missed by some; by others, not so much.” In truth, he will be gratefully and lovingly remembered, cherished, and missed by multitudes of appreciative loved ones, former students, and friends.
One of Bob’s very closest survivors is Tola Kingsbury Ewers, a former student and longtime friend. He treasured Tola like a daughter and was grateful for her tirelessly devoted caregiving in his final years. Robert also appreciated Tola’s husband, handyman Wayne.
Among Robert’s major regrets in life was not having lived long enough to see Donald Trump incarcerated.
Again, in Robert’s own words of his self-authored obituary (in which he greatly belittled himself), he was “a tolerable teacher and a mediocre basketball coach, a being who took pride in recognizing and acknowledging his many limitations.”
Although amusingly mindful of the more plausible alternative to his mortal being upon his passing, Robert, with his invariable devastating wit, claimed to look forward to “sprouting angel wings, reclining on a cloud, playing a harp and doing all of the other ethereal things that supernal transmogrification supposedly brings.”
In keeping with Robert’s wishes, no formal services will be held at the present time. Mourners wishing to honor Robert are encouraged to raise a Coors Light in his memory and to support a local Shakespeare production or donate to an anti-Trump cause.