PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. -- Robert W. Buhler, founder of convenience-store chain Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin Inc., died Oct. 6, 2016, in Tucson, Ariz. He was 93.
“Bob” Buhler was born in Racine, Wis., to Walter and Irene (Septon) Buhler.
Early in his career, he was a door-to-door milk salesman. He became president of Marigold Dairy and pioneered the cream-top milk bottle, which uniquely separated milk from cream for use in cooking.
Recognizing that home delivery of milk was soon to become obsolete, Buhler started Open Pantry, one of the earliest convenience-store chains in the country. The chain grew to nearly 30 locations before selling most of its locations to 7-Eleven Inc.
Eventually, he transitioned the responsibilities of Open Pantry to his son, Pleasant Prairie, Wis.-based Open Pantry’s president and CEO, Robert Buhler, although he remained chairman emeritus until his passing.
Robert W. Buhler was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Eunice Jean Berg. He is survived by their three children, Elizabeth “Betsy” Buhler of New York; Rebecca (Doug) Emmons of Brookfield, Wis.; and Robert (Violetta) Buhler of Lake Forest, Ill.; their four grandchildren; a sister; a sister-in-law; and several nieces and nephews. After Eunice’s passing, Bob married Yvonne Lange, who died in 2014.
He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Racine, the Racine Rotary Club, member and board member of the Racine YMCA, member and former president of the Racine County Safety Council and director of the Chamber of Congress Economics Club of Tucson. He had also served in the U.S. Army during World War II, stationed in the Philippines.
Buhler enjoyed spending time outdoors at his home on Trout Lake, in Minoqua, Wis. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he also attended weekly classes at the University of Arizona up until his passing, studying the classics, economics, literature, history and the arts.
Visitation will be held Oct., 14 at Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home in Racine, and Oct. 15 at First Presbyterian Church in Racine, followed by funeral services. Charitable donations may be made in Buhler’s memory to the Medical College of Wisconsin Eye Institute, Milwaukee.
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