Robert F. Dill of Manitowoc passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 28th, 2025.
Bob was born May 13, 1933, in Manitowoc, son of the late Ernst and Violet Gauthier Dill. He was educated in the Manitowoc School system, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1951. He also was a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Bank Marketing, University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Business Management, and the Bank Personnel Graduate School at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.
He married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Bast, on August 8, 1954, at First German Ev. Lutheran Church.
An Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, Bob joined the Manitowoc Savings Bank in 1957, now known as Associated Bank, as a management trainee shortly after his release from the service. Progressing through the ranks during his career with the bank, he served as manager of several operating areas and retired as Vice President in December 1987. He also had been a Vice President of Associated Banc-Corp, Green Bay, parent company of Associated Bank. After his retirement from Associated Manitowoc Bank, he and his wife, Jinny, wintered at Pelican Cove in Sarasota, Florida, where he served on various committees and boards.
Bob was active in his church and had served as Deacon, Elder, Treasurer and Chairman of First German and as a member of the Board of Control of Manitowoc Lutheran High School. For many years he also was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod where he served on its Executive Committee.
His civic and community involvements were many including over seventeen years of direct involvement as Director, Vice President, and Treasurer of the Manitowoc-Two Rivers Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Manitowoc Historical Society, President and Trustee of the Manitowoc County Bankers’ Association, Secretary/Treasurer and Trustee of the Manitowoc Industrial Development Association, a member of the Finance Advisory committee at Lakeshore Technical College, where he also taught a course in banking, and on the President’s Council of the Bank Marketing Association, Chicago, Illinois.
Survivors include his wife, Jinny, three daughters and sons-in-law: Mary Beth and Tom Lakatos, Neenah, Sara and Chris Spencer and Amy and Jason Muench, Manitowoc; six grandchildren: Craig (Mallory) Lakatos, Christopher (Emily) Spencer, Nick (Sara) Spencer, Libby (Brennan) Rhode, Megan (Jonah) Salm, and Jared (Sara) Muench; great grandchildren: Avery and Chase Lakatos, Tobin, Will, Jaxon, and Graham Spencer, Benjamin and Nora Spencer, Ellie and Brooks Rhode, Lincoln and Baby Salm (due early October), and Ellis Muench; and a sister, Bette Haupt, sister-in-law, Ruth Ann (Charlie) Indestad, and brother-in-law, Chuck (Nancy) Bast. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents, grandparents, Ernst and Anna Dill, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Vincent and Laura Ruth Bast, a sister, Kathleen, killed in an auto accident in 1948, brothers-in-law, Frederick Haupt and Vince (Pam) Bast, and an aunt and uncle, Kathleen and Arthur Kimmes.
The Dill Family would like to thank the many special caregivers at the Manitowoc Health and Rehabilitation Center and the Sharon Richardson Hospice Team for all of their compassion, love, and support given to our family. Your kindness will always be remembered.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2025 at First German Ev. Lutheran Church, 1033 South 8th Street, Manitowoc. Officiating will be Rev. Jacob Hoff. The family will greet relatives and friends at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of services at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Manitowoc. Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by the American Legion Drews Bleser Post #88. Following the services at the cemetery there will be a luncheon held at the Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center, 620 North Water Street, Manitowoc, located on the south property of the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate memorials to First German Ev. Lutheran Church or Manitowoc Lutheran High School. Online condolences to the family may be sent to www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com
The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
