Robert Bernhardt Ott, 95, of Baraboo, passed away on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013 at St. Clare Meadows Care Center with his loving family by his side. Bob was born on Jan. 27, 1918 in Baraboo, the son of William M. and Emily (Giese) Ott. He graduated from Baraboo High School in 1937 and worked in his father’s hardware store, Ott Hardware Company. During his youth, Bob belonged to the local YMCA and the Boy Scouts, and was very active in the Demolay organization from 1934 to 1939. He also served on the volunteer Baraboo Fire Department from 1938 to 1940. Bob attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1940 to 1941, serving in the ROTC. He then enlisted in the U.S. Air Corps the day after the attack at Pearl Harbor. In August of 1942, he graduated from Officer Candidate School in Miami Beach, Fla., with a commission as 2nd Lieutenant. He sailed on the Queen Mary from New York to England in 1943, serving in WWII in the 8th Air Force stationed on Raydon Air Force base, rising to the rank of Captain. After WWII ended, he spent three months studying at the American University in Biarritz, France. While there, he traveled to Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, where he drank spring water from the grotto that some believe contain healing properties. Upon returning back to the United States in February of 1946, Bob purchased the Ott Hardware store from his father, and on Sept. 23, 1946 he was united in marriage to Leila Tuttle in Baraboo. From this union they were blessed with five children; four daughters and one son. He sold the hardware store in 1969, and spent the next 25 years as a real estate broker, retiring in 1994. Bob was active in the community, serving on the Baraboo City Council and the Baraboo Industrial Expansion Corp. He was a lifetime member of Circus World Museum and was on the board of the Circus World Museum Inc., purchasing and donating the Norris & Rowe wagon, which was one of the first in the museum's collection. In addition, he was also secretary / treasurer of Devil’s Lake Concession Corp. for 45 years. Bob was active in several organizations which included the Kiwanis and Elks Club, Masonic Lodge, Zor Shrine Temple Camel Patrol, The Royal Order of Jesters and the Madison Consistery. In addition, he belonged to the American Legion, was a lifetime member of the Baraboo Country Club, and member of the First Presbyterian Church, Baraboo. Survivors include his wife, Leila; four daughters, Mary Lee (Ron) Laitsch, Sue Ann (Kent) Krueger, Sally Jane (Brian) Dunn, Terri (Bill Wulf) Ott; a son, Robert Michael Ott; four grandsons, Jason and Cory Laitsch, Robert and Patrick Dunn; one granddaughter, Amy Laitsch; two great-grandsons, Joshua and Ryan Laitsch; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by a brother William Ott Jr. of St. Petersburg, Fla.; a sister, Carol Ott Boyd of Roanoke, Va.; and a granddaughter, Jennifer Dunn. A time of visitation will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 from 1 pm to 2 pm at the Rago-Baldwin Funeral Home, 520 East St., in Baraboo. Private interment will be held in Walnut Hill Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Baraboo Veterans Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospitals.