Dear Robert Jacob Sivertsen,

Known to your parents, Jacob and Borgny Sivertsen, as Robert, to your wife, Jody, as Bob; to your daughter, Robyn (Randy) Henke, and your son, Ryan Sivertsen, as Dad; to your granddaughters, Korissa (Derek) Schadrie and Samantha (Zac Winkler) Sivertsen, as Pop-pop or Poppy and to your great-grandson, Oliver Ryan Schadrie, as Great Pop-pop.

The city of Chicago got a little brighter on June 27, 1947, the day you were born. The entire world got a little darker on September 9, 2021, the day you passed away.

I want to thank you for your service, having fought in the Vietnam War as a proud Navy man.

I know you’ve had numerous jobs in your 74 years but I will always remember you as the Waupaca Schools Maintenance/Custodian for 35+ years. I was so proud to be able to say, “There goes my Dad” if I saw you in the halls. We were only in the same school for a short time but I was always proud of you and I always will be.

You were so devoted to Mom. I loved watching you and her cooking together. You were such a good team in the kitchen. You loved me and Ryan so much and you made our childhood quite adventurous. I remember our camping trips at Petenwell. It seemed like weeks but I am pretty sure it was only one. You sure had a love/hate relationship with that tent. Your grandchildren were your pride and joy. No one had a better kept pool in the neighborhood and the video footage you took of Sam and Korissa is still being streamed out into space, millions of lightyears away. I am so glad you got the joy of meeting your Great Grandson Oliver. What a little cutie he is. So happy and those cheeks! We will make sure he knows what a great son, husband, dad, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend you were.

You have had many chapters in your life but I think of you as having five. Chapter One: Life After Your Parents Passed, Chapter Two: Life After Your Parent-in-laws Passed, Chapter Three: Life Before Mom Passed, Chapter Four: Life After Mom Passed and Chapter Five: Life After Ryan Passed.

Chapter One is a chapter, I am sad to say, I cannot recall as much as I’d like to. I now know what it is like to lose your parents so I can say now that I am so sorry. Chapter Two was also hard for you because I know you thought of Lois and Ralph as your own parents and loved them very much. Chapter Three is your happiest chapter and we saw that every day with the way you loved her. After losing the love of your life, your soulmate, your next chapter, Chapter Four, was a darker one. I know how sad and heartbroken you were. Ryan and I tried to involve you in most of what we did. We tried to make you feel less alone and more loved. Chapter Five was, well, nothing can really explain life in that chapter. I cannot imagine what it is like to lose your child. I know you were so, so sad. I tried the best I could. I got a lot of help from Drena Vetter. My living 90 minutes away was difficult for checking in on you or getting you things if you needed them in a hurry. I will never forget how much she did for you and can never, ever thank her enough. There have been many more family and friends that have passed in your life, too many to list. I guess that is a consequence of living such a long full life.

You will finally get to rest right behind Mom, who you always said deserved front and center stage. Only close family and friends will be invited to put you to rest, just as you requested. I hope you are at peace now, Dad. You deserve to have no more pain and to be with all of the friends and family who have passed on before you. I can just imagine the party going on right now.

I guess we can call this Chapter Six: Life Reunited and what a wonderful chapter it will be.

Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements.