Robert Theodore “Bob” Schoville was born September 7, 1947 in Richland Center, WI. He came from humble beginnings, growing up on a farm in rural Wisconsin near the small town of Viola. At a young age he shared the many farm chores of milking, cutting hay, and harvesting tobacco. That strong work ethic carried throughout his life. He attended a one-room schoolhouse for eight years, eventually excelling in academics and athleticism at the newly consolidated Viola and Kickapoo High School, graduating as valedictorian and earning an appointment to West Point. Bob attributed his motivation to attend West Point to his father’s combat service in the Marines during World War II.
As reported in the ’69 Howitzer, Bob’s persistence and toughness were tested as a new cadet. He suffered from a kidney ailment that upperclass leaders thought he was faking to avoid some of the rigors of Beast Barracks. Not even the surgical scar he received after being medevaced to Walter Reed could convince doubters, including companymates, who admired his “cunning.” They also said this craftiness kept him “one step ahead” of USMA’s academic departments. However, in Bob’s Legacy Book narrative, he credits his professors and classmates for surviving plebe year. Another companymate, Brian Owens, recalls that Bob was “an amazing athlete, pound for pound one of the best I’ve ever known” and points to Bob’s high school eight-man football experience for B-1’s success in intramural sports.
Steve McGue writes that following graduation, Bob again demonstrated his toughness when he nearly severed a little toe in an accident motorcycling off-post from Jump School at Fort Benning, GA. Determined not to get dropped from training, he bandaged his foot and persisted through the physically demanding regime to earn his wings (wiping blood out of his boot every day).
As children, Bob and his future wife, Nancy, attended Sunday School together, and she was a year behind him in their high school. Although friends, they didn’t date until the summer after Bob’s graduation. Nancy recalls that Bob made quite an impression arriving at her home in his yellow Corvette. They married in January 1970 and immediately started their life together stationed with 8th Infantry Division in Mannheim, Germany. When his B-1 roommate, Ed Quinn, visited his troops incarcerated in the “Mannheim Jail,” Bob would meet him for 1-on-1 basketball.
Bob’s active duty service totaled eight years, including additional assignments in Vietnam, Georgia, UW-Madison and Alaska. Following active duty, a friend suggested he join the Wisconsin National Guard. Sixteen years later, he retired as a lieutenant colonel, having spent his last six years as a Reserve CGSC instructor. Bob was fortunate to be employed by GTE/Verizon, for 24 years, concentrating on IT; they supported his dual career paths, providing diverse opportunities in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and, finally, Dallas, TX, where he and Nancy retired at age 53. Eventually, they returned “full circle” back home to Wisconsin.
In retirement Bob shared a passion for traveling with Nancy, family and friends. Bob had a unique way of traveling: He preferred to go “off the beaten path,” as opposed to a convenient route or plan. He enjoyed the surprises and unexpected twists on his journeys in Europe, from meeting bed and breakfast owners and becoming lifelong friends with them, to staying in a “hidden gem” Italian villa he stumbled upon last minute. Bob loved historical sightseeing, trying out local delicacies at unknown restaurants, and truly cherished these adventures with his family. He made every trip not just a vacation, but an experience, full of unplanned laughter, food, new friends, fun, and many humorous and joyous memories to carry home and reminisce about for years.
Bob enjoyed cooking and baking. And much like his philosophy on travel, he enjoyed doing things his own way in the kitchen, creating his own recipes and never hesitating to try something new. He was especially skillful at cooking meats, from smoked turkey on the grill at Christmastime to Texas brisket for summer pool parties.
Bob cherished his role as Grandpa to his eight grandchildren and was a “hands-on” grandfather. Among his favorite activities to do with the grandchildren were reading the newspaper comics, reading books, singing songs, completing crossword puzzles, fishing, playing dolls with the two granddaughters, making animal pancakes and cookies for them, and talking about military history with the grandsons.
Bob exhibited his soft side in his love of poetry; he had a knack for memorizing, reciting, and writing it. Nancy cherishes the many love poems he wrote to her over the years. He enjoyed English Romantic poets, such as Coleridge and Wordsworth, and American poets such as Longfellow. Bob especially enjoyed poetry with historical and military context, as well as spiritual themes.
He was a selfless, generous man and often shared random gifts with friends and family, baking desserts for his neighbors, greeting active military members at airports. Bob always thought of others before he thought of himself.
Bob and Nancy were blessed to share 48 years together. His legacy will live on in Nancy; their children Eric (Mandi) Schoville, Kevin (Nicole) Schoville, and Paige (Jimmy) Dalton; and grandchildren Magnus, Axel, Esme Schoville, Adelaide and Frederick Schoville; and James, Cormac, and Morrison Dalton.
Bob was a spiritual man with a strong faith in God. Even after being diagnosed with cancer, Bob’s faith held strong and provided much comfort and strength to all of us. Bob passed away quite peacefully from pancreatic cancer on May 19, 2018 surrounded by his wife and children.
 — In Loving Memory; Nancy, the Schoville children, grandchildren, and classmates