Robert Emmett Cullen was born to eternal life on July 2, 2019 after a long life filled with passions for healing, music, and travel. He was 92.

Bob was born in Belleville, Wisconsin on August 13, 1926 and raised in Madison. He attended the University of Wisconsin in 1944 but left after one year to serve the Army as a medic in Okinawa and Korea during World War II. Upon returning from service he re-entered the university and graduated with a Doctor of Medicine in 1952.

He married Verna Ilene Watson of Benton, Wisconsin on April 30, 1955. They remained married until her death in 1994.

Bob interned in Galveston, Texas, then did residencies at both the V.A. and University Hospital in Madison. He spent two years in the renal division of the University of Nebraska Medical School in Omaha before he returned to Fond du Lac in 1962 to open his solo practice. Bob and Verna welcomed their only child, Robert Sean Cullen, that same year.

He served as Chief of Medicine at St. Agnes Hospital for many years and Chief of Staff from 1976-78. He spearheaded the development of the Intensive Care Unit and was its first medical director. He also served as medical director of the Grandcare Nursing Facility and St. Francis Home.

He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Allergy, the American Society of Internal Medicine, and both the state and county medical societies. He was treasurer of the medical review organization WISPRO.

Upon retirement in 1991, Bob re-ignited his passion for music by obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in piano performance from Marian College in 1996.He was preceded in death by his parents, Florence and Emmett Cullen, his half-brothers Phillip and John Kernan, his half-sister Kathryn Beryl Sutton, and his beloved wife, Verna.

He will be deeply missed by his son Sean and his wife Lyn of Waukesha, Wisconsin, their daughter Rachel Cullen of Bozeman, Montana, many former colleagues, and many friends.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, July 9 at Zacherl Funeral Home, 875 E. Division Street in Fond du Lac. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, July 10 at St Francis Chapel, 33 Everett Street in Fond du Lac. Bob will be entombed immediately following at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.

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