Winnebago, IL - Robert A. Niblo, age 78 died on Wednesday, October 5, surrounded by his family, from complications of Parkinson's that he fought for many years.  Born June 8, 1944 in Dakota to Robert T. and Hazel (Neuschwander) Niblo.  He graduated from Dakota High School in 1962.  On July 3, 1965 he married Janice Hellum in Stoughton, WI at First Lutheran Church. He worked for Honeywell/Micro Switch for 37 years in different capacities retiring from Quality Control in 1999.  He then went on to be the transportation director for the Stephenson County Senior Center for 10 years before retiring from there in 2009.  He developed many friendships there and would meet the senior bus drivers for breakfast every Friday morning right up until he couldn't any more.      

He was a Boy Scout/Eagle Scout while growing up and shared many memories of his tap-out ceremony at Canyon Camp. He achieved his pilot's license when he was in his early 20's.  He aspired to be a pilot, but life had other plans for him.  When he was a young  boy  he would listen to the Cubs play on his transistor radio under his pillow at night.  When the Cubs won the World Series in 2016, he couldn't have been happier watching the game with his family.  Here is a  youtube  link to watch his reaction the moment they won  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6BXjUWr41Q   VIEW VIDEO HERE        .    

 He was a proud Pearl City Lion for many years where he served as President and received the Gale Johnson memorial award in 2013.  He also was a District Governor for District 1D of the Lions club in 1997/98 traveling all throughout the Northern Half of Illinois with Janice installing officers and visiting many clubs during that time.  He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Freeport, Il since 1965 holding many leadership positions within the church including youth fellowship leader, Administrative Chair, Building Committee Chair and many others. He enjoyed playing his trombone in many pit orchestras in the area and the Freeport German band. Music was a very important part of his life and he was an avid fan of the UW Marching Band, going to as many concerts as he could. Bob was a member of the IHSA Blackhawk Officials Football and Basketball refereeing team for 25+ years along with his colleagues, Bill Penticoff, Tony  Scuitto  , Joe Garrow, Amos Kent and Frank Rutter.  They made it to the state game level three times before retirement.      He was the last to survive of his reffing family.   

He enjoyed working outside on his hobby farm in rural Freeport where he had horses, sheep and other small farm animals for many years.  Campfires at the fire ring in the backyard was something that he enjoyed with his family till all hours of the night watching the satellites in the night sky. His 100 ft garden was something that he was very proud of along with all of his flowers that he planted each and every year. Horseback Trail riding with his kids in the Pearl City/Loran area was something he always looked forward to. The family spent many summer weekends at Lake  Kegonsa  , in Stoughton WI at his  in-laws  cottage water skiing, fishing and tubing.  He would often spend all day behind the wheel of the boat pulling one kid after another on water skis until the sun set on the horizon.  He also loved many years of camping, starting out with a canvas tent and then graduating to a StarCraft pop up camper when the kids were older.  Later in life, he would go to as many sporting and music events for his grandchildren that he could.  He even proudly walked his granddaughter, Hope down the aisle at her wedding in 2012.        

He is survived by his wife, Janice; his daughters, Michelle (Tad) Stubbe, Melanie Tack; Son, Michael. His legacy includes 7 grandchildren, Hope (Dan) Dobson, Landon (Jamie Acasio) Baumgartner, Jared Stubbe, Aidan, Jacob, Jordan and Leah Tack.  5 Great Grandchildren Sebastian, Caius, Augustine, Avila and Philomena Dobson. He also has many nieces, nephews and multiple great nieces and nephews.    

 He is preceded in death by his parents and 4 sisters and their spouses Joyce Virtue, Pauline (Vernon) Hyle , Lorraine (Elmer) Terhark and 1 infant sister; his mother and father in-law Donald and Delores Hellum and one sister-in-law Diane Kirby.        

A visitation will be held at First United Methodist Church Freeport on Wednesday, October 12 from 3-7pm and a service will be held on Thursday, October 13 th at 10:30am also at First United Methodist Church Freeport.  There will be a special Lions recognition ceremony at the end of visitation on Wednesday night around 7pm.      

 In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in his name for the Freeport First United Methodist Church and the Pearl City Lions Club.      

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the Mercy Health Hospice staff and his dream team from Comfort Keepers Audra, Sharon and Lucy.      

Condolences can be left for the family at   www.walkermortuary.com.