Obituary of Robert Winfield Swick

Robert �Bob� Winfield Swick, 86, formerly of Cambridge, passed away on Friday, November 11, 2011, at the Sun Prairie Hospital. Bob was born in Jackson, MI, on July 6, 1925, the son of Winfield H. and Ferne Swick, and spent most of his childhood growing up in Rockford, IL. After graduating from Rockford East High School, he enrolled in Beloit College. He had planned on becoming a lawyer, but fell in love with science instead and so majored in Chemistry and Biology. Bob was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. He celebrated his graduation from Beloit College on June 16, 1947, by marrying his college classmate and sweetheart, Marlyn �Lynn� H. Peacock at the campus chapel. Lynn�s parents, Earl and Ola Peacock, were also from Rockford, but had eventually purchased a home and four summer cottages on Lake Ripley�s Shore Place area, and ran them as a family business. The young couple moved to Madison so Bob could start his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin, and before he completed his degree their first child, Nancy, was born. Bob was recruited as a biochemist at Argonne National Laboratory, University of Chicago, and started an 18 year career specializing in protein synthesis. His work was frequently published and Bob was recognized in the Who�s Who of American Scientists. Lynn meanwhile gave birth to three more children, (Scott, Steven, and Jennifer) and they raised their four kids in Clarendon Hills and then Naperville, IL, while spending as much free time at Lake Ripley as they could. Eventually, Bob and Lynn inherited the cottages on Lake Ripley from her parents, and Bob and Lynn and their children spent their summers on the Lake to become part of the Cambridge community. When a job offer to become a Professor in Nutritional Science at the University of Wisconsin materialized in 1969, Bob packed his family into their station wagon and moved to their home on Lake Ripley. They split their time between Madison and Cambridge until his retirement in 1986 allowed them to move to a home on the west shore of Lake Ripley. Not content to just sit around in retirement, Bob became involved on the Lake Management Board and headed the major lake cleanup effort at that time. He also served on the Cambridge Library Board and was instrumental in the fund raising, design and construction of the Cambridge Library. For years, Bob also volunteered at Cambridge Elementary School, where he worked several times a week assisting 2nd grade teachers by tutoring children in remedial math. He frequently commented that he was so busy he couldn�t remember how he used to also carry a full time job! He lost the love of his life on September 10, 1999, when Lynn died after complications following surgery. Bob continued volunteering, and traveling as much as he could, as he and Lynn had done. His four children gave him 10 grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and before his death, two great-grandchildren were born. Bob is survived by his children, Nancy (Charles) Walter, Altoona, WI; Scott (Sally) Swick, Fond du Lac, WI; Steve (Terrie) Swick, Milton, WI; Jenny Johnson (beau, Rich Kilburg), of Cambridge, and special friend, Kim Swick; grandchildren Lindsay (Nicholas), Patrick, Robb (Jenell), Jeff, Ann-Margaret, Catherine, Elysa (Ian), Michael, Michelle, and Cyndi; step-grandchildren, Kyle, Stephanie and Kym; and great-grandchildren Helen and Mason. A private memorial service was held on Sunday, November 13, at Jenny�s home on Lake Ripley. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial gift to the Cambridge Library. Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family.