Arlyn A. "Bobby" Day

Arlyn Arthur “Bobby” Day passed away on Thursday, April 26, 2024 at Cedar Grove Gardens in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin. He was 84 years old. Arlyn’s eldest grandson, Nicholas , nicknamed him “Bobby” after  being told that the Howie Mandel  cartoons called “Bobby’s World” described his grandfather’s adventures when he was a little boy.  Arlyn’s grandsons’ favorite memories are spending hours in the “Boys’ Clubhouse” with Bobby and his model train set.

Arlyn was born on December 29, 1939 to Arthur Martin Dobberstein and Doris Norma (Griswold) Dobberstein in New London, Wisconsin. Arlyn loved his family and grew up on a farm with seven brothers and sisters. After graduating high school he served in the United States Marine Corp Reserves. He attended UW-Oshkosh, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education, and taught elementary and middle school students in Illinois.

After being awarded a Master’s Degree in Library Science from UW-Milwaukee, he was a Reference Librarian for the Kenosha Public Library system from 1968 until his retirement in 2005 at the age of 65. His duties included:  information retrieval and helping the public locate books and information. He also managed book selection for the Kenosha Public Library system in the Social Sciences.  His areas of expertise included: genealogical research and local history.

Arlyn met his former wife when they were both working at the Oshkosh Public Library. He married Judith Cathryn (McCullough) on June 12, 1966 and they had one daughter, Elizabeth Anne Batdorf. After nearly 30 years of marriage, they divorced but lived in separate houses next to each other with a path from his front door to hers, connecting their yards.  Arlyn wore his wedding ring until his death.

Arlyn is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Anne Batdorf (Fred Ogreenc) of Sheboygan Falls and Cedar Grove, grandsons Nicholas Lee Batdorf and Aaron Alan Batdorf (Kate), sister Janice Marie (Reuben Edwin) Borgardt, brothers Larry Michael Dobberstein, Neil Henry Dobberstein ( Roxanne Bloechl), and David Lee (Elaine LaVonne Overgard), in addition to his  former wife, Judith Cathryn (McCullough) Day,  to nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Arlyn is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Martin Dobberstein and Doris Norma (Griswold) Dobberstein, sisters Darlene (Kenneth) Gerike and Sandra Jean (Gordon A.) Kopitzke, brother Kenneth and sister-in-law Wanda (Schmitke) Dobberstein , and sister-in-law Karen Sue (Zarlling) Dobberstein, in addition to a close friend, Tony Jackim.

A private family Memorial Service will be held.

The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice and Cedar Grove Gardens for their compassionate care and kindness, and to the Wenig Funeral Home for assisting the family with arrangements.