Reverend Robert George Hawley, Jr., STH ’68
This obituary was originally posted by Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home and can be found here.
We celebrate the completed life of Robert George Hawley, Jr., age 80, a resident of Naperville, IL. Bob was 
born January 25, 1943, in Omaha, Nebraska to Robert G. Hawley, Sr. and Patricia A. Hawley. He died October 9, 2023, at his home in Naperville after a long battle with young-onset Alzheimer’s subsequently complicated with Cerebral Atherosclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara, three children, Brian (Diana) Hawley of Lafayette, CA., George (Rachel) Hawley of Chicago, IL, Marisa Hawley of Naperville, IL, and two grandsons Graham and Jacob Hawley of Chicago, IL. He was supported and enriched by his brother and sister-in-law, Edward (Connie) Brinton of Iowa City, IA and sister-in-law Louise Hawley of Duluth, MN. He was preceded in death by his loving parents and brother John Hawley.
Bob spent his childhood in Omaha, NE and Sioux City, IA enjoying camping and hiking with his family, Boy Scouts, music and was nurtured in the Methodist Church. He graduated from Sioux City Central High School in 1961, attended one year at Drake University, then graduated from the University of Iowa in 1965. He met Barbara Brinton of Brighton, IA in their senior year. They began their married life in Boston, MA where Bob got his Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology in 1968.
Bob and Barbara returned to Iowa where he served Methodist churches for five years and welcomed their three children into their home. He was then assigned outside the local church and began his lifelong work with The Ecumenical Institute and Institute of Cultural Affairs. He served in this experimental global ministry consulting and collaborating with communities and churches advancing human development living in various locations in United States and Australia and consulted in Jamaica, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Canada. He was an agent of change and community advocate for ICA in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.
After Bob was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he participated in programs through Rush University’s support group for people with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease, diligently exercised and continued to read for many years. He was a bright and reflective man who helped educate professionals and caregivers through panel presentations and writing from the position of one living with the disease. He was a positive model for many struggling with the same journey. He tried to make the best of every day, be as little burden as he could, and rejoiced in what he still had.
Bob was a loving husband, father, grandpa, and uncle. He was compassionate and had a gift for putting his compassion into action. His kindness and empathy served as an example for others. He was a caring man that lived with faith in humanity and was always helping others.
The family requests that donations be made to support the Without Warning Young-Onset Alzheimer’s Support Group at Rush which has sustained Bob and his family for 17 years. Please send memorial gifts to Rush University Medical Center, Philanthropy Office, 1201 W. Harrison St. Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60607-3319. Include Without Warning in memo line.
A memorial service and interment will be later at Hillcrest Cemetery in Brighton, IA. Anyone wishing to receive notice of the memorial service should tell Bob’s family.
Guest book at www.beidelmankunschfh.com courtesy of Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home.