In Memoriam: Bob Berkley

AMAP is saddened to learn that Bob Berkley, the founder of AMAP, has passed away. We would like to express our deepest condolences to Bob's family and loved ones. 

Bob was a pioneer and leading expert in the field of modified asphalt. Without his contributions to the association and the industry, AMAP would not be what it is today, and we owe him a debt of gratitude. 

Click here to read the full obituary, or continue below.

To learn about the founding of AMAP and Bob's contributions, visit the AMAP History page.

Robert "Bob" Berkley Obituary

Robert Wesley Berkley died of natural causes at age 87 on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 in Algoma, Wisconsin. A loving, compassionate, intelligent, gregarious, and quick-witted man, Bob has left a conspicuous void in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing and loving him. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend to many, pioneer in the road-building materials industry, and servant of God's kingdom.

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

Bob was born in St. Louis, Missouri. While he was very young, his family moved to a more rural setting nestled among southeast Missouri's Ozark Mountains. Their modest home was situated on the side of Buford Mountain, the state's second-highest elevation. Bob spent much of his youth rambling over the old, rounded mountain's rocks and through its forest. He developed a fascination with the stones and minerals shaping the landscape, collecting geodes and other specimens on his adventures. He carried this interest into young adulthood, earning a bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Growing up in the area of Buford Mountain and the adjacent Arcadia Valley, Bob developed a passion for nature that he pursued throughout his life. Bird‑watching was a particular passion, and later in life he led numerous family outings with binoculars in hand, eager to spot his favorites or discover a new species for his life list. Likewise, he enjoyed fishing - the thrill of a tug on his line never diminishing over time.

LIFE IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

While attending Ironton High School in Arcadia Valley, Bob met and fell in love with Rosalie Bay. They later wed, moved to St. Louis County, and experienced more than 62 years of growth and memories together until Rosalie's death in 2021. They were blessed with two sons, Kent and David. Bob and Rosalie shared a love of literature and poetry, including Rosalie's own published and unpublished works. Their welcoming and warm home was filled with art and antiques that they joyfully collected together, including paintings and photography created by Bob. They took many long walks in and around St. Louis County, frequenting local parks and nature reserves. They traveled regularly to enjoy family vacations and time by themselves in Door County, Wisconsin. On several occasions, they journeyed southwest to take in the desert hues of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the bold landscapes of Sedona, Arizona.

Bob and Rosalie were devoted disciples of Jesus Christ and were actively engaged in their faith community at Kirkwood Baptist Church.

The couple worked to advance fair housing in their community. In the late 1960s and 1970s, they went door to door, distributing leaflets to advocate for equal access to housing for people of all races - at a time when such rights were not universally recognized.

They also dedicated themselves to helping families rebuild and heal from the disease of alcoholism. This commitment arose out of Bob's recognition in 1974 of his addiction to alcohol. He began attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), ultimately celebrating 50 years of sobriety in April 2024. Through AA and its affiliated program, Al-Anon, Bob and Rosalie supported and sponsored hundreds of alcoholics and their affected families and friends through the steps of recovery.

Before Rosalie's passing in February 2021, Bob selflessly cared for her as she was confined to a wheelchair for six years following a major heart attack and multiple strokes.

LATER YEARS IN WISCONSIN

In November 2021, Bob moved from St. Louis County to Algoma, Wisconsin, to be closer to his beloved firstborn son, Kent, and to help care for him as he battled cancer in nearby Sturgeon Bay. After Kent's death in November 2022, Bob remained in Algoma to build on the relationships he had already established in the community and to stay close both to Kent's grieving family and to son David and his family living in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, about 90 miles away.

Bob regularly attended Algoma United Methodist Church and, in late 2022, met fellow congregant Susan Sandstrom. What began as a friendship blossomed into love, and they married in December 2023. Bob's courtship of and marriage to Sue gave him a new breath of life after a dark and difficult chapter rife with the challenges of caregiving, loss, and loneliness.

Bob and Sue ministered to the Algoma community, establishing a weekly free soup luncheon for seniors, sponsored by the church. They also hosted numerous meals for local families, particularly those facing economic challenges, focusing on the children - engaging them, listening to them, playing games, and providing a memorable meal experience. Furthermore, Bob and Sue actively promoted the work of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon throughout Kewaunee and Door Counties.

In 2024, as Bob encountered health challenges precipitated by two severe bouts of COVID and associated cardio-pulmonary complications, Sue and his family members cared for him tirelessly. However, even amid numerous medical appointments and treatments, Bob and Sue celebrated their newfound love, enjoyed their combined families, attended community events, and obsessively checked in on a pair of bald eagles and their hatchlings that they had spotted in an enormous nest near Algoma.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Bob's boundless energy, combined with his ability to focus intensively and develop creative solutions to vexing problems, served him well in his professional life. He applied his degree in geology and an engineering mindset to the field of pavement science and production. Over the years, he worked his way up the ranks of several companies that produced asphalt and modified (polymer) asphalt and that paved roads with those materials. Serving in positions including founder, president, and CEO, Bob played a pivotal role in the construction of roads, bridges, and highways spanning Missouri and connecting states across the Midwest. As part of this work, Bob partnered with talented, hand-picked chemists to invent more resilient, economical, and sustainable polymer asphalts that remain in use today. Many who travel the highways of Missouri and the Midwest today will drive on road surfaces developed under Bob's leadership.

In 1992, Bob founded the Association of Modified Asphalt Producers (AMAP), bringing together key players in a fledgling industry to ensure the continued adoption and growth of the product category that they were pioneering. Today, AMAP continues to thrive as an influential industry association.

A RENAISSANCE MAN

Bob was a Renaissance man who excelled in both analytical and creative pursuits. In his profession, he mastered the left-brain disciplines of chemistry, science, physics, and mathematics. Yet, he also exercised the right brain through a deep appreciation for the arts - he was an accomplished painter, an avid reader of poetry and fiction, and a lover of music.

Even more impressive than his intellect, however, were his heart and spirit. He loved Jesus, immersing himself in scripture and living his beliefs, often quoting Matthew 25:34-40. He cherished his family and friends, good food, probing conversation, the St. Louis Cardinals, and Missouri Tigers football and basketball. He delighted in laughter, exhibiting an ever-present sense of humor that ranged from campy and sophomoric to nuanced and sophisticated.

Bob's warmth and charisma made him especially gifted at connecting with young people. He fostered very close relationships with all of his grandchildren, and he created a special place in his heart for his two great-granddaughters.

Bob Berkley is greatly missed by many who loved him, especially his family.

FAMILY MEMBERS

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie (Bay) Berkley; his son, Robert Kent Berkley; and his parents, Robert W. Berkley and Jane E. (Hunt) Berkley. He is survived by his wife, Susan Sandstrom. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Michele Munson, Kent's widow; his granddaughter, Gabriella Berkley, and her daughter and his great-granddaughter, Luna Berkley; and his grandson, Isaac Berkley. Bob's son, David Berkley, and his wife, Tammy Berkley, also survive him, along with their children and their families: Ashley Nowland; Jordan Nowland and his wife, Natalie Nowland; Nate Berkley and his wife, Alice Berkley; Haley Nowland; and Joe Berkley. Additionally, he is survived by his great-granddaughter, Erin Grunwald (Ashley's daughter); his stepsons James Sandstrom and John Sandstrom; and his sister, Pam (Berkley) Ross and her family - husband Doug Ross and their children Kevin Ross, Julie Powers, Bradley Ross, Scott Ross, and Jennifer Roberts.

CELEBRATION OF AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

Bob's family invites you to a memorial service and a reception afterward to celebrate his life. Come and join us! Hear stories about Bob from his friends and family, and share your own story about Bob if you'd like! ALL ARE WELCOME.

Time: 2:00pm CDT

Date: May 31, 2025

Place: Algoma United Methodist Church, 804 Parker Ave., Algoma, WI 54201

DONATIONS IN BOB'S MEMORY

In lieu of flowers, Bob's family invites friends and loved ones to consider making a donation in his memory. Contributions may be made to either or both of the following causes that reflect Bob's lifelong passions for nature, community, and service:

>>> Door County Land Trust

This nonprofit organization is dedicated to protecting and preserving natural environments and ecosystems in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin.

To donate in Bob's memory, go to https://www.doorcountylandtrust.org and click "Donate Now," and then choose "Give a Tribute or Memorial Gift." Then select "Dedicate This Donation" and "In Memory Of." Then fill in "Robert W. Berkley" and use the following as the "Recipient Email": mausberkley@gmail.com.

Alternatively, donations may be mailed to:

Door County Land Trust

P.O. Box 65

Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

Please note "In memory of Robert W. Berkley" in the check's memo field.

>>> Latinos Emergency Assistance Fund (LEAF)

Bob's son, Kent Berkley, and Kent's wife, Michele Munson, established this program in 2020 to provide assistance to Latinos families that live in Wisconsin's Door and Kewaunee counties and are facing economic hardship. This fund collaborates with the Hispanic Resource Center of Door and Kewaunee Counties (HRC), Door County Medical Center (DCMC) and its Imelda's Hope/Esperanza de Imelda Ministry Fund, Hope United Church of Christ, and other local churches and agencies that provide discrete and reliable emergency funding and support to targeted families for rent and utilities, medical care, transportation, employment, and household goods.

To donate in Bob's memory, visit https://hopeunitedchurchofchrist.breezechms.com/give/online and click to the right of the large dollar sign at top to fill in the amount of your donation. Then, click the first pull-down menu to select "Give to L.E.A.F." Then, click the second pull-down menu to select whether you want to make a one-time donation or a repeating donation. The third pull-down menu allows you to select the method of payment. Then, click "Continue."

The next dialog screen will allow you to enter your payment information. In the "Comments" field, please enter "LEAF - Robert W. Berkley."

Alternatively, you may mail in or drop off your donation at the following address:

Hope United Church of Christ
141 S. 12th Ave.
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

Please make your check payable to Hope UCC and write "LEAF - Robert W. Berkley" in the check's memo field.

Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC in Sturgeon Bay are assisting the Berkley family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Robert may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert "Bob" Wesley Berkley, lease visit our floral store.