Robert Ernest “Bob” Shellman, former editor and publisher of the Oconto County Times-Herald and a veteran of Patton’s 3rd Army during World War II, died Sept. 10, 2015, at the age of 92.
Shellman was born in Fennimore in 1923. His family moved to Crandon, where his father served as superintendent of schools until he bought into The Oconto Falls Herald in 1929. Shellman graduated with honors from Oconto Falls High School in 1941 and married Pauline Barnum Gasser in 1947.
Upon his discharge from military service, Shellman joined the family business, The Shellman Publishing Co., in Oconto Falls, which published The Herald. He commuted to Lawrence College in Appleton initially and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1948 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Joining the firm full time, Bob was instrumental in the purchase of The Gillett Times and the creation of the Oconto County Times-Herald in 1949.
The business thrived through the 1950s with Bob sharing writing and editing duties with his mother. For many years, he wrote “Sports Banter,” an entertaining column in the area. He was responsible for most local reporting in addition to selling advertising and job printing throughout northeastern Wisconsin. In 1975, he married Loretta (Lytle) Mayer, who also joined the firm.
Shellman was a member of the WNA Board of Directors for many years. He and his wife, Loretta, had five sons, a daughter, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
