Robert Lee Bastian

Robert Lee “Bob” Bastian, 91, of Freeport, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Bob was born in Freeport, Illinois, the son of Oliver and Ruth Bastian, and spent his childhood on a family farm near Florence Station before his family later moved to German Valley and eventually planted roots in Freeport, IL.

In his early years, Bob enjoyed the energy of dance halls and roller rinks, the competition of fast pitch softball tournaments, and some legendary trips across the Wisconsin border with friends.

Bob married Helen (Rogers) Bastian on November 5, 1955, and together they built a life rooted in faith, love, resilience, and unwavering devotion to family. Together, they raised five children, Julie, Vicki, Eric, Kurt, and Tina, and created a home where showing up for one another was not a once-in-a-while thing; it was simply the way you lived. He loved his boys and was a fierce protector of his girls.

Bob was a builder in every sense of the word. He began his career at Micro Switch, where he met Helen, rose into leadership, and helped shape the future of plastics manufacturing. He later co-founded Pyramid Plastics, a company he owned and grew through determination, long nights, and belief in something bigger than himself. Those who knew his story understood the risks he took and the sacrifices he made. To him it wasn’t about business success, in his own words, “...at the end of the day, I did it all for the love of my family.”

Retirement did not slow Bob down; it simply gave him more time for what he loved. He enjoyed traveling with Helen, golf, bowling, and being outdoors, especially hunting trips with his boys. You could often find Bob in the stands at local area high school and college games with his buddy, Joe, and if one of his grandchildren or great-grandchildren had an activity, Bob was there. From baseball, basketball and hockey games, soccer and volleyball matches, football under the lights to tennis and swim meets, track and field events and theatre productions - he showed up again and again, smiling with pride.

Bob found joy in the simple rhythms of life. He enjoyed his morning visits to the coffee shop, watching evening sunsets, and the smooth sounds of classic standards and polka music. He was also a lifelong sports fan, especially Chicago sports, but above all, he loved the Chicago Cubs. Many summers were soundtracked by WGN Radio and the familiar voices of Cubs baseball, the kind of steady tradition that made ordinary days feel like home.

Recently, in reflecting on his life, Bob returned again and again to a few simple truths: perseverance, loving your family, and letting go of what you cannot control. He believed, “The best thing you can do for your kids is to love their mother,” and he lived that through partnership, sacrifice, and steady devotion. He also believed in “moving forward: do not live in regret, do not hold grudges, because the only person it hurts is you”.

Bob will be remembered as a man who loved his family and friends, worked hard, kept his word, and lived with humility and quiet strength. His legacy is not just what he built in business, but what he built in people: a family full of love, resilience, laughter, and deep loyalty to one another.

Surviving are his children, Erick Haddad (Julie), Vicki (Greg) Shadle, Eric (Jackie) Bastian, Kurt (Beth) Bastian, and Tina (Bill Jacobs) Bastian; fifteen grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews he loved dearly.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver and Ruth Bastian; his siblings, Mary (Albert) Johnson and Leonard (Janet) Bastian; his beloved wife, Helen Bastian; his daughter, Julie Haddad; and his grandson, Zandyr.

Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. followed by a Masonic service at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Burke Tubbs Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026, at First United Methodist Church, Chaplain Jeremy Heller and Reverend Natarsha Gardner will officiate.

After the funeral services, burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, with a luncheon at the church following.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s name may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.