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Robert J. "Bob" Ellingson, 74, of Poplar Grove, IL passed away peacefully, Monday evening, April 4, 2022, in OSF St. Anthony Medical Center after a bit of health trouble. Bob was born July 31, 1947, in Belvidere, IL the son of Donald F. and Genevieve (Voorhies) Ellingson. Bob grew up on a dairy farm with his three brothers and was proud of being a livestock man and animal lover. His comment was, "He might forget a person, but he would never forget an animal." He graduated from North Boone High School in 1965 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville from 1965-1966. Bob was employed at First National Bank in Rockford, IL from June 1966 through 1971, and then started his career hauling milk for numerous Dean Distributors, as well as assisting Veterinarian Dr. Glen Lehr during his free time for over 30 years. His last job, of which he retired, was with Muller Pinehurst Dairy. He showed registered Chester White hogs at the Wisconsin State Fair and the Illinois State Fair from 1975 to the present; he especially enjoyed having his son Mike, and his two grandsons, Justin and Jared, assist in showing the pigs. He showed dairy cattle successfully for many years. Over the past 23 years, he enjoyed having draft horses and until recently, provided a carriage service for weddings and parades. Bob had other civic involvement including being a member of the Poplar Grove Lions Club, and a former member of the Poplar Grove Volunteer Fire Department and Illinois Chester White Board. He managed Poplar Grove Little League Baseball for 10 years and coached North Boone Junior High School in various sports for 12 years.

Bob is loved and will be missed by his son, Mike (Mary) Ellingson; grandsons, Justin and Jared; special longtime girlfriend, Sandy Brockmann and her family; brothers, Terry (Kay) Ellingson, Denny (Janet) Ellingson, Bill (Wendy) Ellingson and numerous nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. Bob is preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services for Bob will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 9, 2022 in Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services, 218 W. Hurlbut Avenue, Belvidere, Il with Rev. Keith Richard, officiating. Burial in Poplar Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, April 8, 2022 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Boone County Fair in Bob's memory for a future livestock project. To share a memory, please visitwww.AndersonFCS.com.