Robert Allen Mainland, 72, passed away on April 16, 2021. He was born to Robert S. Mainland and Dorothy Stieg (nee Mazzulla) on July 6, 1948. He spent the first years of his life playing in a chicken coop on his grandfather’s farm, but his parents soon moved to the city, where he got into all sorts of mischief with his beloved dog, Penny. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and proudly served his country in Vietnam, before returning home, where he attended UW-Parkside on the GI bill, earning a degree in sociology. He later started a furniture refinishing business and then moved on to the grocery industry – where he met his wife, Mary (nee Kozenski), and won her over with his egg-juggling skills. They married and had one child, Natalie, upon whom he doted. He later earned his teaching certificate and taught for over 20 years in the Racine Unified School District, where he served as a teacher, mentor, and friend to countless middle and high school students. In his retirement, he enjoyed spending time in Florida, traveling to Europe, and watching zombie movies. He is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Dorothy, his stepfather Earl, and his aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife Mary Mainland, M.D., daughter Natalie Mainland, and son-in-law, Justin Schneider, who love him greatly and miss him dearly. The family will receive visitors from 4-7 pm on Wednesday, April 21 at Strouf Funeral Home in Racine, and again from 10-11 am on Thursday, April 22 at St. James Church in Franklin. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held immediately following. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Anti-Cruelty Society (https://anticruelty.org) or to First Book (https://firstbook.org).
ROBERT ALLEN MAINLAND
We both express our sincere condolences to your family. We pray that good memories can comfort you at this time.
When Great Trees Fall
by Maya Angelou
When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
and even elephants
lumber after safety.
When great trees fall
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.
When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words
unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.
Great souls die and
our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.
Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.
Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance, fall away.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of
dark, cold
caves.
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
― Maya Angelou
My brother Bob (Butch), will always be remembered.
Dr. Mainland,
Sending my heartfelt condolences to you and your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dear Dr. Mainland and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. We are all thinking about you during this difficult time. Wishing you hope and comfort.
Dear Mary Kay and Natalie,
We were shocked and saddened to hear of Bob’s passing. We remember him as such a friendly guy always greeting you with a smile. You are in our thoughts and prayers, praying for peace in your hearts.
I haven’t seen Bob in many years. I remember back in the 60’s and 70’s Bob was one of my brother Jim’s older good friends. Out of all of them Bob was the only one who was always nice to me. Great sense of humor. Very sad to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family.
Dr. Mainland and family,
I am wishing for your peace and comfort during this difficult time. You will be in my thoughts.
Pedro and I extend our deepest sympathies on Bob’s passing. We have fond memories of Bob at family gatherings and the kind way he would reach out to us and others with interest and wonderful conversation. Our hearts and prayers are with you during this time of sadness, and we are grieving with you. With much love, Linda and Pedro
Dear Dr. Mainland,
My deepest, most heartfelt condolences are with you and your family. May his soul Rest In Peace.
Sincerely,
Nushani
Bob Mainland was my brother. I will miss him more than anyone knows. He was a great big brother to me. When I was very young he would read his MAD magazines to me and sing the crazy songs from on the radio. I I remember his dog Penny, he was so attached to her. We would vacation Florida, he was fun and we had great times all those years ago! I do remember catching him smoking behind the motel one year……he made me promise not to tell Dad. As i grew older, he could be counted on for help, advice and guidance! I loved him. I will miss him dearly. Mary and Natalie, God’s blessings to you. We were so sorry to hear of his passing. He will be missed.
I hadn’t seen Bob in years, but everything I have heard about him shows that he was a lover of animals. I know he passed that love on to his sister Marol who cares for all kinds of animals daily. My condolences to the family and to Marol and Lisa.