R.I.P to a kind and generous man, age 98.
A really wonderful man and valued friend passed away Saturday 09-27-25 at the great age of 98 years. Bob Keller raised a family of four sons in the Orchard Ridge neighborhood here on the SW side of Madison WI. Three of them worked alongside in the family real estate company. Keller Real Estate Group is headquartered in the historic office (originally the hdq of the state employees union where Bill Proxmire put out the Union Labor News) on West Washington Ave.
Bob Keller possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of who built what in Madison; after all, he had been selling real estate since 1950 and built his share of Madison housing — more recently including Bedford Court, Tuscan Place, and Washington Court on W. Washington Ave. Often expressed amazement at the city’s current building boom; said he’d never seen anything like it. Just a couple years ago saw Bob sitting in the garage of a newly built duplex on Whitcomb Drive to do showings. His office put out this statement:
Bob was 98 years of age, vibrant, out-going, and a patriarch in the real estate and property management industry. Still playing tennis and showing apartments, coming to the office every day at 97 years old, founding a 3-Cushion Billiards Club in his 90’s, and an avid Gyro member for 70+ years, his presence, his smile, and his tenacity will be greatly missed.
→ Bob hits 7 cushions at age 97!
‘Tenacious’ — and patient!
Had to be to navigate Madison city government for the requisite permits. His own father had been mayor of Beaver Dam; as a young man, Bob attended both the Republican and Democrat 1952 national conventions; wasn’t a delegate, just curious, he told me. Helped many a local government candidate, including this one. One of his sons, David — just as can-do as his dad — managed all my local political campaigns. (We even won some of them.)
Bob Keller committed untold acts of kindness and generosity — opening up a vacant property for a homeless family, making space available in one of his buildings so that Mitch Henck could podcast after being let go at WIBA, are just a few to my knowledge. Bob’s obituary will run in the morning newspaper Wednesday. Visitation next Tuesday 10-7-25 at Gunderson FH Middleton; funeral Wednesday at Bethel Lutheran. Complete obituary.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: If there was any positive, Bob Keller would find it. There will be an empty chair and a full cup of tea at our twice-monthly breakfast group this week.
6 responses to “Bob Keller”
I knew OF him from playing tennis at Powless many years ago. What a great life.
Really great guy.
Bob’s participation in our breakfast conversations will be missed.
Taught me 3-Cushion Billiards. One of the most decent men I have ever known. You could not help but like and admire Bob. RIP
Bob was a wonderful gentleman, and a respected member of our area Realtor community.
I was new to Wisconsin in 1969 and took the RE exam for licensing. Hard to believe but the test asked questions that you answered essay style. I flunked the test and was PO that what I wrote wrong considered wrong. I showed that to Bob who was then on the RE examining board and he agreed that my answer was correct. I had to retest, tho, but now the test was multiple choice.
Easily one of the nicest people to ever work in the real estate business, in any business for that matter. It was an honor to have known him.