On Aug. 27, 2025, surrounded by his family, Robert “Bob” Marshall Rauland, 89, of Walworth, passed peacefully into the arms of the God he loved so dearly.
Born on June 3, 1936 to the late Bernard “George” and Florence (Marshall) Rauland in Chicago, Bob spent his early years with his family in Berwyn, Illinois, before moving to Fontana. Bob dedicated himself to hard work and service from an early age as an Eagle Scout. He met his high school sweetheart, Cynthia Lee Cooper, at Walworth High School and graduated in 1954. He attended college earning a business degree and married Cynthia on April 20, 1957. Bob and Cynthia raised four children together – Scott, Shari, John and Jeff.
Bob became an Insurance Agent as well as a Real Estate Broker, opening The Rauland Agency Inc. in 1961 in Walworth selling insurance and real estate. He became a real estate legend and one of the most respected and trusted Realtors® across the real estate spectrum in Southeastern Wisconsin for 61 years until his retirement in 2022.
Bob was a member and leader in the Order of the Eastern Star and Masons rising to receive the rare Mason’s 33rd Degree lifetime achievement award for service and earning his 50-year certificate in 2009. Bob and Cynthia were also dedicated to serving Immanuel United Church of Christ and Whitewater United Church of Christ, where Bob served as a Moderator, Board of Trustees member and fundraiser rising to serve at the National UCC level. Bob was also a member of the Geneva Lake West Rotary Club for 56 years serving in leadership and becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on countless boards including the Walworth State Bank Board of Directors, Aurora Lakeland Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors, the Gateway Technical College Foundation Board of Directors, the Fairhaven Senior Services Board of Directors and many others and was an incredibly successful fundraiser for many organizations and causes raising funds for libraries, area schools, arts and music programs, wildlife, animals, healthcare, police/fire/rescue and communities and he was instrumental in Kikkoman Foods locating in Walworth.
Bob was an award-winning, prolific photographer and loved taking and sharing his photos. He has given out thousands of copies of his iconic moonlight cross photo as well as many of his other treasured photos along with notes of encouragement, scripture and verses.
To his family, he was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather loving each one of his four children, two step children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren deeply along with their spouses and extended families.
When Bob’s wife, Cynthia, died of cancer in 2009, the good Lord blessed Bob with a devoted, soulmate and beloved, second wife, Arlene (nee Jamieson) Long, his high school classmate, to inspire and love him and help him to continue his life’s mission serving his family and community. They were married on April 11, 2012 at St. Benedict Catholic Church where they are members and enjoyed a wonderful marriage traveling, enjoying their gardens, birds and wildlife, spending time with family and friends, supporting their cherished community and continuing Bob’s mission together, side-by-side and inseparable to the end. Bob was the most loving, caring, supportive, forgiving, faithful and Christ-like man. He gave his heart away to every human and animal he met and never missed the chance to make someone’s life better.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Cynthia. He is survived by his wife, Arlene (Jamieson/Long) Rauland; sister, Sandra Rynne; brother, Earl (Carol) Rauland; children, Scott (Frances) Rauland, Shari (Harry) Mohr, John (Christine Heyter) Rauland and Jeff (Amy) Rauland; step-children, Tammy Long and Terrence Long; grandchildren, Patrick (Ren) Rauland, Jared (Nicole) Miller, Alexandra (Cody) Sears, Jordan (Corbin) Mitchell, Amelie Rauland, Anastasia (Cody) Smith, Erik Rauland, Mathis Rauland and Thomas Rauland; and great grandchildren, Liam, Nina and Margot Miller, and Sawyer Rauland.
Visitation will be held on Oct. 9, 2025 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Fontana from 4 until 8 p.m. and again at St. Benedict Catholic Church on Oct. 10, 2025 from 9 until 10:45 a.m. with the funeral mass starting at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.
It is Bob and his family’s strong request that no flowers be given in his honor and that instead you please follow his example and donate your money and time in his honor to three of his favorite organizations – Lakeland Animal Shelter, Fellow Mortals or S.M.I.L.E.S.
For more information contact Toynton Funeral Home at 262-275-2171. For full obituary, please visit www.nelsonfuneralhomes.com.
