PRAIRIE DU SAC, BARABOO, PORTAGE, LODI – Roberta “Bobbi” Hewitt-Kahl, age 90, passed away on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at the home of her daughter surrounded by her loving family.

 

She was born on February 16, 1934, in Straight Creek, Kentucky, the daughter of Edward and Laura (Smith) Hatmaker. Bobbi was raised a true coal miner’s daughter, surrounded by the Appalachian and Smoky Mts in Pineville, Kentucky which had hardships of its own. When listening to her talk about her childhood despite its difficulties she clearly loved her upbringing surrounded by a rather large family.

 

Bobbi was an intelligent, resilient and hardworking woman. The oldest daughter in their large family. At the 7th grade she left school to stay home to care for her ailing mother, siblings and their home. In her free time, she would take to learning/reading anything she could get her hands on.

 

As a young woman she left Kentucky and joined her girlfriend in South Carolina near the Georgia state line. There she started her waitressing. It was during this time she met and married Fred Hewitt while he was stationed in Georgia. After his time in the Army, they moved back to Fred’s home state of Wisconsin. Most of her years in the Lodi area. Bobbi loved meeting people, very welcoming and always helping with whatever needed to be done. She enjoyed country music and played guitar and spoons. She made numerous friendships over the years regardless of where she was living. Bobbi was a woman of strong faith and loved Jehovah.

Over the years Bobbi was seen waitressing/working locally at the L.C.C. alongside her mother in-law, Downtown Cafe in Lodi, The Bridge Tavern and The Lodge on Lake Wisconsin in Okee and The Trophy Room in Lodi. In addition to all the above jobs Bobbi was employed by the State of WI as a sanitation engineer at the UW until she retired.

 

Bobbi is survived by her two daughters, Laura Bartholomew and Shelley (Tom) Schmitt; son, Fred (Sandy) Hewitt; ten grandchildren, Danielle (Josh) Hill, Stephanie (Todd) Williams, Joseph (Amanda) Howery, Jessica (Damon Derleth) Howery, Christina (Adam Gerads) Schmidt, Tacoya (Brandon Suchla) Hudson, Robert Bartholomew, Frederic (Cailyn Hanson) Hewitt, Cherlynn (Jay Heinzelman) Collicott, and Xavier (Anna) Quinlan; twelve great-grandchildren, Tabatha (Jacob) Jones, Blake (Rya ) Howery, Kaylee Howery, Charlee Howery, Hunter Hudson, Hadleigh Hudson, Axel Suchla, Gracelyn Williams, Landon Collicott, Aubrey Collicott, Brynlee Gerads, and Samuel Hill; great-great grandchild, Morgan Jones; five sisters, Wanda Cole, Marlene Clouse, Sherri Hatmaker, Athea (Al) Peters, Jackie (Roger) Hoskins, and Melissa (Tim) Owens; brother, Mickey (Carla) Hatmaker; sister in law, Hazel Hatmaker; and numerous nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved.

 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Fred Hewitt and Lyle Kahl; her loved friend, Jacque Krikorian; seven brothers, James (Wilma) Hatmaker, Samuel Hatmaker, Paul Edward Hatmaker, Donald Hatmaker, Paul Alfred Hatmaker, Ricky Hatmaker, and Vernon Hatmaker; five sisters, Dorothy Hatmaker, Rosetta (Kenneth) Feldman, Edith (Leo) Warner, Ella Hatmaker and Brenda (Joe) Jolls, brother-in-law, Allen Cole; and son-in-law, John Bartholomew.

Private family services were held in Lodi on August 18, 2024. Graveside gatherings will take place at a later date in Wisconsin and Kentucky.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.