Robert "Bob" Phillip Kult

Robert (Bob) Phillip Kult, 85, of Brookfield, WI went home to our Lord on November 26, 2025. Bob was born August 22, 1940 above Kegel’s Inn restaurant in West Allis, WI, the second child of Marty and Mary (Kegel) Kult. He was a graduate of Marquette University High School and Marquette University. One evening during his final year of graduate school, while completing an internship at Milwaukee City Hall, Bob made a phone call. When the young lady on the other end said “hello,” Bob asked “is this the girl in the pretty red dress?” Fortunately for him, it was, and fortunately for him, she didn’t hang up. That girl, Laurel (Lolly) Schmidt, was working at City Hall at the time, although she has no idea how Bob obtained her home phone number. On August 20, 1966, Bob and the girl in the pretty red dress said their wedding vows. Thus began their 59 years of marriage, the highlight of which was raising their five children and then welcoming four wonderful daughters-in-law, one terrific son-in-law and eleven incredible grandchildren into their lives.

Bob had fond childhood memories of playing baseball for hours a day during the summer months. As a dad, he enjoyed coaching his kids in both baseball and softball. Anyone who played for Bob knew that he had two rules for the team: be ready, and hustle. If those rules were followed, success was assured.

Other fond memories for Bob included bowling with his dad and brothers, and later with Lolly; weekends at Blue Spring Lake with family; serving as the household and neighborhood barber, providing trims and buzz cuts to many young lads; playing pool with his brother Al; assisting his kids with scouting, and attending just about every one of their various sporting and extracurricular events; and enjoying breakfast at George Webb with his kids after chauffeuring them on an early Sunday morning paper route, to name just a few.

Sometime around age 40, Bob was bitten by the “golf bug,” and it got him bad. For 40 years thereafter, golf was a passion for Bob – for the game itself, and also for the natural beauty of the golf course and surroundings. He loved to share that passion with his kids, and especially with Lolly as they enjoyed rounds together at many courses throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and Michigan.

Bob was an accountant by training, and possessed an uncanny ability to process numbers and calculations in his mind. For better or worse, he passed on an affinity for math and numbers to his five children. They are 95.639% grateful for that.

Bob’s absolute favorite time of each year was family vacation week on Lake Delton in the Wisconsin Dells. For nearly 50 years, Bob and Lolly spent a lakeside week each summer with all of their children and grandchildren, and with good friends they met along the way. For Bob, this week of swimming, golfing, fishing, games, and simply watching his family interact and have fun together, was priceless.

Family was everything to Bob, and was what he considered his and Lolly’s most meaningful accomplishment together. He expressed often that he could not have been more proud of his children and grandchildren. His grandchildren will remember him as always being fully present and engaged in the moment when they were in his presence. He loved them all dearly and individually, each for the exact person they are.

There are few people who never say an unkind word about another person. Bob was one of the few. He never gossiped, never disparaged others, and never used inappropriate language. He ran into a friend or familiar face everywhere he went, and approached that person with a smile and a handshake to say hello. Once he met you, he never forgot you. Bob was truly one-of-a-kind in that regard. When you get to Heaven, look for Bob. He will smile and shake your hand, tell you that his name is spelled the same forward as backward, and invite you to enjoy a fish fry and a Pabst Blue Ribbon with him – clam chowder to start.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Laurel Kult; son Chris Kult (Tina) of St. Louis, MO; son Greg Kult (Stacy) of Indianapolis, IN; son Pete Kult (Kristin) of Brookfield, WI; son Andy Kult (Kylie) of Danville, IN; daughter Anne Hardy (Mike) of Elm Grove, WI; grandchildren Katie, CJ, Alex, Sam, Anna, Toby and Lucy Kult, and Ryan, Sawyer and Jack Hardy; brothers Marty (Mary), Steve, Ed (Terry) and Dan (Laura) Kult; sister Marla Kult; sister-in-law Janet Kult; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Marty and Mary Kult; brother, Al Kult; sister-in-law, Gloria Kult; niece, Lisa Kult; and grandson, Spencer Kult.

Bob’s family would like to express special gratitude to Dr. Michele Tschopp, Dr. M. Fuad Jan, and the entire Aurora Home Hospice team for your care and compassion throughout the past year.

A memorial visitation will be held on December 19, 2025 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Schramka Funeral Home, 13220 W. Capitol Drive, Brookfield, WI 53005. A Funeral Mass will be held on December 20, 2025 at 10:00 am, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 12130 W. Center Street, Wauwatosa, WI 53222.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the following in Bob’s name:

Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital (foundation)

3800 Park Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63110

www.glennon.org

Father Carr’s Place 2B

1062 N. Koeller Street

Oshkosh, WI 54902

www.fathercarrs.org