Robert “Rob” J. McMahon was only 62 when he died May 5, 2024, at Northwestern Hospital, Huntley.
Rob, who lived with his wife, Candee, and their two “girls” – their dogs – and cat in Wonder Lake was the son of Robert J. McMahon Sr. and Betty (Sherry) McMahon. He was born Dec. 15, 1961, in Elgin.
Rob met Candee B. Phillips on a blind date, and they married July 2, 1988, in Vandalia.

Basketball was his sport – a perfect match for his 6-foot-4 frame. It was basketball that strengthened bonds with his nephews and made for decades of Men’s Sunday Night Basketball with friends and other round-ball enthusiasts.

Rob was patient, nurturing, non-confrontational, and would roll with all kinds of situations. His soft laugh was like no other. Friends and family knew he was present even without seeing him. And, his perpetual smile was always welcoming.

Lasting friendship was one of his gifts to others. He had many friends – some from when he was in kindergarten and dozens from every segment of his life.

After graduating from Crystal Lake Central High School, he earned an associate’s degree at McHenry County College and then a B.S. in Industrial Management at Southern Illinois University. His life’s work was engineering both as a professional at work and as a do-it-yourselfer at home. He was hardly every sick and seldom took his vacation days. At home, he was the builder with Candee as his able assistant. What he built will last forever. It is said their deck that he engineered and built would support a semi truck.

Rob was wonderful dancer. He learned the twist at age 4 and looked forward to weddings in part for the dancing that followed during the receptions. Another of his pastimes was riding bicycles – especially with Candee on their electric bikes. He had them tuned up and ready for a summer of riding the trails in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

Rob was a man of faith and an active member of First Presbyterian Church Woodstock and its Saturday Morning Men’s Bible Study. Even when in France for work, he participated in the Bible study via video-conferencing. He also met weekly for more than a year as a member of the pastor search committee. Both in Bible study and on the search committee he offered much appreciated and needed discernment. His services in the sound booth will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his wife, Candee; sister, Karen Nicholls; his Nicholls nephews Lon, Ron, and Scott; and his Phillips nephews Luke, Brent, Eric, Scott, and Quinn. Also surviving are eight Nicholls grandnieces and grandnephews and four great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Kristine R. Coss; and a brother John McMahon.

A visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church Woodstock, 2018 N. Route 47, Woodstock. A celebration of life service will follow at 2 p.m.

Memorials can be made to First Presbyterian Church Woodstock or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at jdrf.org/donate.