Robert (Rob) C. Shadwick

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 1:14 pm

Robert (Rob) C. Shadwick passed away on the morning of Oct. 31, 2017, after a courageous, 16-year struggle with the effects of the life-saving treatments he received to cure his cancer. Memorial services to celebrate Rob’s life were at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at First United Methodist Church in Decorah, with Rev. John Caldwell officiating. Inurnment was at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, Nov. 4, at Phelps Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah assisted the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.

Rob was born Oct. 30, 1946, in Clinton, to Kenneth and Lucille (Dannatt) Shadwick. He graduated from Clinton High School with the class of 1964 and received his BA in science and geography from Mankato State University in 1969. After graduating he moved to Decorah and began teaching science at the Junior High. It was there, with two weeks left of school, Rob met his future wife, Nancy Sandberg, also a first-year teacher. Their meeting seemed fleeting as the draft would soon take him to the Army and Nancy had taken a job at another school district for the next year. However brief their meeting was, the connection left a big imprint on both of them. Rob and Nancy corresponded frequently and met any chance they could while they were apart. Their love bloomed and they were married June 17, 1972, in Lanyon. They were blessed with three wonderful children: Bryan Joseph, Steven Robert and Erin Kathryn.

Using the GI Bill Rob furthered his studies and received a master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota in 1976. Rob was passionate about geography and about his students, as evident throughout his 34-year teaching career. He was able to merge his love of teaching and his love of the world with two, year-long Fulbright teaching exchanges first in Johnstone, Scotland, at St. Cuthbert’s High School (1979-1980) and the second in Watford, England (1985-1986).

Rob was a leader in his profession, serving as president of the Teachers Association for three years and selected to participate in the 2001 National Geographic summer geography and instructional leadership institute. In 1993, he was awarded the Distinguished Teaching award from the National Council for Geographic Education. He expanded his influence by passing on his teaching talent to new teachers as a frequent supervisor of student teachers and in his role as adjunct professor of education at Luther College from 1992 to 1999.
In addition to his dedication inside the classroom, Rob was a fire-squad sponsor, coached 7th grade football and high school golf, sponsored the geography bee for many years and was pleased to have a state qualifier. He also organized the first 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. in 2001 that continues today. Rob has been a life-long member of the United Methodist church. He served on the pastor parish board, administrative board and was chairman of the trustees, but what was closest to his heart was lending his voice to the First United Methodist Church choir.

In 2001, Rob was diagnosed with a rare form of squamous-cell carcinoma in his tongue and regional lymph nodes and underwent invasive surgery and radiation treatment. For several years he lived a near-normal life and resumed teaching a class at Luther and traveled with his wife and family. In the years that followed, Rob defied all odds for his survival and continued to receive more life-saving treatments. He always loved to eat and talk and both of these abilities were taken from him, but he lived his life without complaint and with grace and strength. Along the way, through these many years of surgeries and treatments, he amazed his doctors and most of all, his family, with his can-do spirit. In the end, Rob suffered the failure of many systems in his body.

Rob will be remembered as a curious traveler of the world and a teacher whose final lesson was to live life head on and with grace.

Rob is survived by his wife by his wife of 45 years, Nancy; his three children: Bryan Shadwick of Cresco, Steven (Mey) Shadwick of Maplewood, Minn. and Erin Shadwick of Robbinsdale, Minn.; three beloved grandchildren: Sophie, Robert and Lucy; his brother-in-law, Jim (Karen) Sandberg of Harcourt, niece, Karen (Scott) Meyer of Cambridge; and nephew, Mike Sandberg of Alleman..

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Rick in 1968, his mother-in-law, father-in-law and sister-in-law, Kathy.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.