A much-loved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and uncle, Robert “Bob” L. Zamzow, 67, of Hoffmann Estates, Illinois passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2025, with his family present. Bob bravely battled serious medical issues in recent years, and he stayed strong until the end.
Bob was born November 8, 1957, in Portage, Wisconsin. He grew up in the Wisconsin Dells/Lake Delton area. After graduating in 1976, he served six years in the US Navy, of which four years were onboard the USS Simon Bolivar where he earned the rank of Electronic Technician First Class and gained his vast knowledge of computers. Bob worked at various software companies in the Chicagoland area before his retirement. His hobbies included playing golf, scuba diving, and karaoke.
Bob is survived by his wife of 48 years, Karen Zamzow; his daughter, Beth (Jacob) Johnson; his two granddaughters, Aliva Johnson (Matthew Meyer) and Kaelyn Johnson; his mother, Joy Zamzow; his sister, Brenda (Randy) Ketelhut; his nephew, Randy (Lacie) Ketelhut, and Randy’s children, Kayla and Evan; and his niece, Melissa (Doug) Beernink, and Melissa’s children, Tessa, Jenna and Bryant.
Bob was preceded in death by his father, Robert H. Zamzow; and his grandparents, Donald and Gertrude Zamzow.
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 1pm, at Wisconsin Dells United Presbyterian Church – 730 Cedar St, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, 53965. Memorial Donations can be made to Diveheart Outreach Center.
For further information, please contact DeFiore Funeral Home at 847-515-8772 or online condolences may be directed to www.defiorefuneral.com.
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Our condolences to Bob’s family. What fun we had in high school with that curly haired handsome guy with that contagious smile! So glad to have known him. I am sure his children and grand children have many precious memories of him.
A classmate whose smile could brighten everyone's day.
I'm so sorry to hear that Bob has passed! We played on the same teams all the way through school, and he was fun to be around. I'll be praying for the family in this time of loss
Bob was a great classmate that always had the biggest smile. My deepest sympathies to all the family. Praying for comfort from our Heavenly Father.
From Eleuthera to Mexico to Curacao to that crazy all nighter in South Carolina, you were a force in my life. The world isn't the same without you in it. I will miss you my friend.
So very sorry to hear of his passing, I only knew Bob for the last 5 or so years but he was certainly an amazing person. He was extremely kind and friendly and very entertaining. He will be missed.
I had lost touch with Bob for some time now. However, after we worked together at three companies, played countless racquetball matches @ 6 AM, backpacked in the Rockies, canoed in northern Minnesota, helped run a ski boat aground in Lake Mead, played many rounds of gold together and many weekends camping with our respective families he has been an important part of my life and was always up for most anything. Both my wife Marcie and I extend our sincerest condolences to Karen and the rest of Bob's family.