Robert Konopa was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin, on September 28, 1951, to Norbert and Martha (Vanek) Konopa. He was baptized on the same day at St. Joseph Hospital, Marshfield. Robert completed his grade school education at Arpin Elementary and his secondary education at Auburndale High School in 1969. Upon his graduation from high school, Robert entered Midstate Technical Institute in Wisconsin Rapids where he earned an associate degree in accounting in 1971. Following graduation, Robert began a ten-year work career using his accounting skills first at a Volkswagen dealership and later at an accounting firm. In 1980, he applied to the Franciscan Friars of the Assumption BVM Province and was accepted as a postulant at TAU Fraternity. During that year, while living in Milwaukee, he attended St. Francis de Sales Seminary. Robert entered the novitiate and was invested with the Franciscan habit at St. Mary of the Angels, Green Bay, on August 28, 1981. He made his first profession on August 14, 1982, and his solemn profession on August 8, 1986 in the hands of Fr. William Gulas, OFM at St. Francis Friary, Burlington. During his formation year, Robert completed a B.A. in Applied Psychology at Loyola University in 1985. Following a year of ministry at St. Elizabeth Social Center, Rockford, Illinois, he returned to Chicago to begin his studies at the Catholic Theological Union where he received a M.Div. in 1990. Robert was ordained to the priesthood on June 1, 1991, by Bishop Richard J. Sklba at St. Francis Friary, Burlington. Robert's first assignment was to serve as associate pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Saginaw. This was a continuation of his time at St. Thomas, where he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Ken Utener and served for one year beginning in 1990. In 1993, he was named Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Greenwood, Mississippi, where he stayed until 1996 before returning to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish to once again serve as associate pastor this time for 12 years. In 2008, Robert returned to St. Francis Friary, Greenwood, but not to serve as pastor. For a number of years, he was involved in Isaiah Ministries, a group who partnered to provide parish missions throughout the States. Responding to the call to be an itinerant preacher, he founded the "Channel of Peace Itinerant Ministry". The Channel of Peace ministry was "designed to serve both the priests so they can be free to be away for a period of time, as well as serve their people as their sacramental and pastoral minister." For five years he preached the Word in Wisconsin, Mississippi, Louisiana and California. Robert moved to San Damiano Friary, La Crosse, in 2012, where he continued his traveling ministry. While living in Greenwood, Robert began to talk with the friars in the community about his long-held desire to write a book. With little knowledge of where to begin, a friar in the community encouraged him to contact two well-known Franciscan authors for advice and direction. In 2011, his first book, God, You Must Have Me Confused with Someone Else was published by Tau-Publishing. In 2012, his publisher approached him about writing a book that contained daily meditations for an Advent season. Working quickly, he wrote A Voice Cries Out: "Here Is Your God!" before Advent of that year. In January 2013, he experienced disorientation and feeling lost while driving to ministry in La Crosse. Following his admission to the hospital, a tumor was discovered on his brain, and he began down the long road of chemotherapy and radiation. The friars at San Damiano cared for Bob for the next two years, driving him many times to the hospital for treatments and appointments, finding food he could eat and all the care that was necessary to assist him during this time. The last week of January 2015, Bob was hospitalized with pneumonia. Fully exhausted, Bob knew that he could not return to the friary for further care. During a conference call with Bob, David Kelly, John Puodziunas, James Gannon and the palliative care nurse, Bob decided that it was time to go to Queen of Peace for the next phase of his care. John Puodziunas brought Bob to Queen of Peace on February 2 and helped him settle into his room. The novices from St. Francis Friary came over and hooked up his computer and set up the internet for Bob. Unfortunately, Bob was very weak and was hospitalized again on February 6. He was discharged from Burlington Memorial Hospital and went to the Milwaukee Catholic Home on February 10. For anyone who knew Bob, amidst a full vocabulary of words, "gentle", "caring" and "compassionate" are three that quickly come to mind. In his book, God You Must Have Me Confused with Someone Else, Bob wrote of an encounter that took place on Mother's Day 2010 that exemplifies this: I will never forget that moment when I saw Cade gently and ever so slowly walk toward me cradling that precious glob of wrapping paper in his little arms. Oh, to have that childlike heart and way! Oh to have that simplicity, that gentle, generous and unselfish spirit. All egos were silenced. There was no need to prove anything to anyone. No words of theology were discussed. At that moment everything was right in the world. At that moment I could no longer find the place where God stopped and Cade began, nor where Cade stopped and God began. At that moment the world was again a beautiful place. On Sunday, May 3, 2015 Robert Konopa died at the Milwaukee Catholic Home in the 63rd year of his life, the 32nd year of his religious profession and the 23rd year of his priesthood. Robert is survived by his mother, Martha of Marshfield, and brothers Marv, Don (Sandy), Ron (Theresa), Wally (Joan), and sister Carol Newman (Rick) nephew Fr. Brian Konopa (Diocese of La Crosse), many other nieces and nephews and the brothers of the Assumption BVM Province. A memorial fund in Robert's name has been established to support the Franciscan Friars in parish and preaching ministries. Gifts may be sent to Franciscan Friars, c/o Fr. Bob Memorial, 9230 W. Highland Park Avenue, Franklin, WI 53132 On Tuesday, May 5, 2015, there will be a viewing beginning at 10:00 a.m. followed by Prayers for the Deceased at 11:00 a.m. at Queen of Peace Friary, Burlington, Wisconsin. Lunch will follow. On Thursday, May 7, 2015, a viewing will be held at Rembs Funeral Home, 300 S. Oak Avenue, Marshfield, Wisconsin from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. with the vigil at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 8 at Our Lady of Peace Parish, 1414 W. 5th Street, Marshfield, Wisconsin at 11:30 a.m. A luncheon will follow. The burial will take place at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, 146, Milladore, Wisconsin after the luncheon. May the soul of Robert and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen. Assumption