Considine, Robert J. 1930-2015

CONSIDINE, HAMILL, ZIMPEL, BAER, COILE, SANDERSON, ROSE

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer
Date: 1/5/2016 at 12:45:09

As promised by our heavenly Father, the Light filled journey towards the promised eternal life began for Robert J. Considine early Sunday morning. Bob quietly left us at 3:00 a.m. after a one month battle with an unknown cancer that had lodged in his digestive system over several months.

A Requiem Low Mass will be held at Saint Joseph's Chapel at 1008 l4th street Rock Falls on Wednesday at 10:00 am for the repose of the soul of Robert J. Considine. Visitation will be from 5-8pm Tuesday night at the Pape home. Rosary will be at 5pm. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Fulton about noon on Wednesday with Military honors. Lunch will be provided at Rastrelli's after the burial service. Bishop Frank Slupski and Rev. Father Brown will concelebrate the Mass.

Robert was born to Robert Patrick and Mary Alice Hamill Considine on Oct 14, 1930; he lived all of his life in the Fulton area. He had one sister, Patricia and three nieces Kathy Zimpel, Karen Baer, and Krissy Coile who he grew up next door from two cousins Bill and Mary Catherine Considine; Mary Considine still lives next door with husband Irwin Sanderson some 70 years later. Bob has many cousins in Wisconsin descendants of the 11 children of John and Hannah Considine, early immigrants of Fulton from Ireland.

After graduating from Fulton High School in 1948, Bob attended Loras College in Dubuque for the next two years; In 1947 he graduated magnum cum laude at Notre Dame in Fort Bend, Indiana with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked as an engineer for nearly 40 years at DuPont here in Clinton retiring in 1985. Bob served in the Air Force from 1950 to 1953 at Lackland, Texas, Cheyenne, WY and Okinawa bases from 1951-1953 as a radio controller. Robert Married Arlene Rose on Oct 9th, 1971 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Clinton, Iowa. They marked their 44th anniversary 2 days before his death.

Bob also worked in design and manufacturing alongside his father Robert P.; who owned the Considine Manufacturing Company in Fulton. The small factory made many innovative products for households. These products continued to be sold in Marshall Fields during the war years and the depression keeping the Considine household afloat!

After retirement he spent much time bulldozing fence lines on the Considine Farms along with maintaining the buildings for many years. He frequently skied in Colorado. In Fulton he enjoyed his dogs Zigg I and II, along with his house boat the IRISH WAKE. His DuPont friends sailed with him over the many years. John Snyder, Jack Waldorf, Mike Brisch, Jim Alain plus Gordon Thomson frequently livened the deck. Bob and Arlene traveled to visit his sister Pat in Naples, Florida a few times along with visiting Arlene's sister Pauline and her husband in Melbourne. Otherwise Bob did not enjoy traveling after a new replacement except from his chair to the refrigerator!

A high light and true blessing of his life was to be able to read, analyze, and remember volumes of history and world financial markets. .Unfortunately when he lost sight in one eye 5 years ago this curtailed that enjoyment. His greatest love was living the unchanging tenets of the pre 1965 Roman Catholic Missal. His wife, church life, and friends at Saint Joseph's Chapel in Rock Falls were the most important things along with his lifelong friends.

The four Behrens, Michael, Thomas, Andrew, and Joseph children of his beloved church family - Joe and Theresa Behrens -will carry their mentor as pallbearers. Considine cousins from Wisconsin will also assist. Honorary servers will be Gene Fields of Fulton, a longtime friend and best man at the Considine's wedding; Bob, Craig, and Jay Wolf, our loyal longtime farm managers will also provide honorary services. John Snyder, of Clinton, another longtime friend and engineer whom Bob worked with also will be an honorary server..

Bob's, analytical mind and keen sense of humor are certainly a loss to all who knew and loved him. Also his deep love of Roman Catholic teachings which he studied carefully created truly a man of great wisdom and of deep Faith. In lieu of flowers, consider the Fulton Historical Endowment Fund or Masses for the repose of Bob's soul.