Robert "Bob" P. Cantwell

Robert “Bob” Cantwell, 73, of Watertown, SD, formerly of Aberdeen, SD, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, June 16, 2024, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 21, 2024, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel, with Father Greg Tschakert officiating.

Visitation will be one hour before the service at the mortuary.

A time of fellowship and luncheon will follow the service at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center.

Private family burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Westport, SD, at a later date.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be recorded and posted on Schriver’s website following the service.

Robert “Bob” Patrick Cantwell was born October 25, 1950, in Aberdeen, SD, to Patrick and Elizabeth (Nicol) Cantwell. Bob attended school in Barnard and Frederick, SD, and graduated from Frederick High School in 1969. After graduating, Bob attended Northern State University (NSU), graduating in 1973 with a degree in Industrial Arts. After graduating college, he managed the Handyman plumbing supply store from 1973 to 1976. He later went to Safeguard (Hub City) working in sales for 24 years. He finished his professional career at 3M in Aberdeen, SD working there for 15 years and retired in December 2015.

On September 27, 1975, Bob married Debbra (Bruckner) Cantwell in Aberdeen, SD at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. After marriage, the couple resided in Westport, SD, moving to Aberdeen, SD in 1979. The couple was blessed with two children: Jennifer (Jenny), born in 1979, and Travis born in 1980. Bob and Deb lived in Aberdeen, SD, until September 2019, when they moved to Watertown, SD.

Bob and Deb were blessed with a bonus daughter, Shantelle (Resel) Engquist. Jenny and Shantelle became best friends in 1990, and Shantelle has been a member of the Cantwell family ever since. Shantelle and her husband Garrett gave Bob and Deb two beautiful granddaughters, Adaline born in 2016 and Alayna born in 2017. Bob loved Shantelle and Garrett and those two little girls dearly.

In his younger years, Bob enjoyed playing baseball with his cousins and softball with his work colleagues. Above all, Bob loved his family, and he loved being outdoors. As a family, they would go on weekend camping trips to various campgrounds and parks around SD. Bob attended all his daughter Jenny’s dance recitals and Flag Corps performances at Aberdeen Central and NSU. Bob and Travis enjoyed mowing lawns together and racing go-karts and cars. Bob attended many races at the Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, SD. He helped instill a love of racing in his son by taking him to races as a young child. Later in life, he was proud to watch Travis race cars there.

Bob always had a passion for woodworking and enjoyed spending time in the garage tinkering with various projects. He was also a football fan. Bob loved cheering on the New England Patriots (and some guy named “Tom”), but more than that, he loved cheering on his beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers. Bob traveled to Lincoln, NE, often to visit family, and one of his fondest Husker memories was meeting the legendary Husker coach, Tom Osborne, and getting a photo and signed football from him.

Grateful for having shared Bob’s life are his wife of 48 years, Debbra and their dog, Cody (Australian Shepherd); daughter, Jennifer Cantwell and her special friend Randy Pusch of Lincoln, NE; son, Travis (Taska) Cantwell of Watertown, SD; sisters: Kathy Lahman, Patsy Kwasniewski, Maureen Cantwell, Beth (David) Doerr, and Carol (Shane) Matt; Aunt (Godmother) Elaine (Earl) Schulenburg; Cousin, Kevin (Kathy) Cantwell who was like a brother to Bob, and many other family members including nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Betty; his brother, Mike; father-in-law, LaVern Bruckner; and brothers-in-law, Larry Lahman and Tim Kwasniewski.

The family requests monetary donations in lieu of flowers. These donations will go to the Aberdeen and Watertown Humane Societies in memory of Bob.

Bob will be greatly missed by many family members and friends.