Robert Applegate lived a life grounded in music, family, humor and kindness.
Bob was born the youngest of four children on July 15, 1950, to Harold Smith Applegate and Mary Elizabeth Shane Applegate in Peoria. In high school, Bob taught himself to play guitar – "to get girls," he used to quip – and his love for music was something he held dear throughout his life.
When he was 23, he started Applegate and Company. He sang vocals and played guitar and mandolin with the band at venues throughout Central Illinois for the next four decades. He helped to grow Peoria's music scene through events like Brown Bag It and Pickin' at Sundown, and he enjoyed collaborating with many talented musicians throughout the years.
He was the owner of Applegate Guitar Center and the co-owner of Integrated Audio Systems, which he started with bandmate and friend, Bill Harlan, in 1991. He also taught guitar lessons, ran sound for First United Methodist Church and did independent sound work and guitar performances for concerts and other events around Peoria.
Bob was a family man, through and through. He and his wife, Lisle, met through a mutual friend at Illinois Central College, fell in love and raised two children together. He loved being a grandfather – laughing at the teenagers' stories and snuggling with the toddlers, especially. He had a gift for seeing the most important parts of his family members and feeding their creativity, compassion and curiosity.
Some of our favorite memories with him involve improv singing at the dinner table, sneaking name cookies at Christmas, recording songs on his fancy studio equipment, floating down the river on vacation, listening to band rehearsals in the basement, caroling with friends and family, playing at summertime volleyball parties and jam sessions, hiking around Allerton Park, going on camping trips and hosting backyard bonfires.
He is survived by his wife, Lisle; daughter, Carey; son, Rob; daughter-in-law, Jenn; four grandchildren, Jacoby, Silas, Gibson and Madelynn; sisters, Carol Terry and Nancy (Michael) Bearce; sisters-in-law, Cheryl (Tom) Bower, Stephanie (Paul) Mathenia and Crystal (Randy) Compton; and loving nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Dick. We are so grateful for the time we had with him and he will be deeply missed.
January 17, 2023 | Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
Bob was born the youngest of four children on July 15, 1950, to Harold Smith Applegate and Mary Elizabeth Shane Applegate in Peoria. In high school, Bob taught himself to play guitar – "to get girls," he used to quip – and his love for music was something he held dear throughout his life.
When he was 23, he started Applegate and Company. He sang vocals and played guitar and mandolin with the band at venues throughout Central Illinois for the next four decades. He helped to grow Peoria's music scene through events like Brown Bag It and Pickin' at Sundown, and he enjoyed collaborating with many talented musicians throughout the years.
He was the owner of Applegate Guitar Center and the co-owner of Integrated Audio Systems, which he started with bandmate and friend, Bill Harlan, in 1991. He also taught guitar lessons, ran sound for First United Methodist Church and did independent sound work and guitar performances for concerts and other events around Peoria.
Bob was a family man, through and through. He and his wife, Lisle, met through a mutual friend at Illinois Central College, fell in love and raised two children together. He loved being a grandfather – laughing at the teenagers' stories and snuggling with the toddlers, especially. He had a gift for seeing the most important parts of his family members and feeding their creativity, compassion and curiosity.
Some of our favorite memories with him involve improv singing at the dinner table, sneaking name cookies at Christmas, recording songs on his fancy studio equipment, floating down the river on vacation, listening to band rehearsals in the basement, caroling with friends and family, playing at summertime volleyball parties and jam sessions, hiking around Allerton Park, going on camping trips and hosting backyard bonfires.
He is survived by his wife, Lisle; daughter, Carey; son, Rob; daughter-in-law, Jenn; four grandchildren, Jacoby, Silas, Gibson and Madelynn; sisters, Carol Terry and Nancy (Michael) Bearce; sisters-in-law, Cheryl (Tom) Bower, Stephanie (Paul) Mathenia and Crystal (Randy) Compton; and loving nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Dick. We are so grateful for the time we had with him and he will be deeply missed.
January 17, 2023 | Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
Robert Applegate lived a life grounded in music, family, humor and kindness.
Bob was born the youngest of four children on July 15, 1950, to Harold Smith Applegate and Mary Elizabeth Shane Applegate in Peoria. In high school, Bob taught himself to play guitar – "to get girls," he used to quip – and his love for music was something he held dear throughout his life.
When he was 23, he started Applegate and Company. He sang vocals and played guitar and mandolin with the band at venues throughout Central Illinois for the next four decades. He helped to grow Peoria's music scene through events like Brown Bag It and Pickin' at Sundown, and he enjoyed collaborating with many talented musicians throughout the years.
He was the owner of Applegate Guitar Center and the co-owner of Integrated Audio Systems, which he started with bandmate and friend, Bill Harlan, in 1991. He also taught guitar lessons, ran sound for First United Methodist Church and did independent sound work and guitar performances for concerts and other events around Peoria.
Bob was a family man, through and through. He and his wife, Lisle, met through a mutual friend at Illinois Central College, fell in love and raised two children together. He loved being a grandfather – laughing at the teenagers' stories and snuggling with the toddlers, especially. He had a gift for seeing the most important parts of his family members and feeding their creativity, compassion and curiosity.
Some of our favorite memories with him involve improv singing at the dinner table, sneaking name cookies at Christmas, recording songs on his fancy studio equipment, floating down the river on vacation, listening to band rehearsals in the basement, caroling with friends and family, playing at summertime volleyball parties and jam sessions, hiking around Allerton Park, going on camping trips and hosting backyard bonfires.
He is survived by his wife, Lisle; daughter, Carey; son, Rob; daughter-in-law, Jenn; four grandchildren, Jacoby, Silas, Gibson and Madelynn; sisters, Carol Terry and Nancy (Michael) Bearce; sisters-in-law, Cheryl (Tom) Bower, Stephanie (Paul) Mathenia and Crystal (Randy) Compton; and loving nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Dick. We are so grateful for the time we had with him and he will be deeply missed.
January 17, 2023 | Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
Bob was born the youngest of four children on July 15, 1950, to Harold Smith Applegate and Mary Elizabeth Shane Applegate in Peoria. In high school, Bob taught himself to play guitar – "to get girls," he used to quip – and his love for music was something he held dear throughout his life.
When he was 23, he started Applegate and Company. He sang vocals and played guitar and mandolin with the band at venues throughout Central Illinois for the next four decades. He helped to grow Peoria's music scene through events like Brown Bag It and Pickin' at Sundown, and he enjoyed collaborating with many talented musicians throughout the years.
He was the owner of Applegate Guitar Center and the co-owner of Integrated Audio Systems, which he started with bandmate and friend, Bill Harlan, in 1991. He also taught guitar lessons, ran sound for First United Methodist Church and did independent sound work and guitar performances for concerts and other events around Peoria.
Bob was a family man, through and through. He and his wife, Lisle, met through a mutual friend at Illinois Central College, fell in love and raised two children together. He loved being a grandfather – laughing at the teenagers' stories and snuggling with the toddlers, especially. He had a gift for seeing the most important parts of his family members and feeding their creativity, compassion and curiosity.
Some of our favorite memories with him involve improv singing at the dinner table, sneaking name cookies at Christmas, recording songs on his fancy studio equipment, floating down the river on vacation, listening to band rehearsals in the basement, caroling with friends and family, playing at summertime volleyball parties and jam sessions, hiking around Allerton Park, going on camping trips and hosting backyard bonfires.
He is survived by his wife, Lisle; daughter, Carey; son, Rob; daughter-in-law, Jenn; four grandchildren, Jacoby, Silas, Gibson and Madelynn; sisters, Carol Terry and Nancy (Michael) Bearce; sisters-in-law, Cheryl (Tom) Bower, Stephanie (Paul) Mathenia and Crystal (Randy) Compton; and loving nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Dick. We are so grateful for the time we had with him and he will be deeply missed.
January 17, 2023 | Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
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