Robert Todd Lawley

Bob was born on March 8, 1931, in St. Paul, MN, the son of James E. and Thelma E. Shoup Lawley. He married Norma Fernandes on January 16, 1981, in Springfield.

Bob proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and earned a Bronze Star. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bradley University in 1955 and then a Juris Doctor degree from Indiana University in 1958. Bob began his career in law as an assistant state’s attorney in Sangamon County then went on to be a partner and owner of Routman and Lawley. He spent five years as Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Bob was the lead attorney for the State and Office of Water Resources in Wisconsin v. Illinois, a case before the Supreme Court of the United States. He represented the department in recreation land acquisitions totaling more than 40,000 acres. Bob had the privilege of arguing cases in the U.S. District Court, U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He was also a former President of the Sangamon County Bar Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Bob is survived by his wife, Norma Lawley of Springfield.

Graveside Ceremony: 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at Camp Butler National Cemetery with Rev. Dr. Blythe Kieffer Denham officiating and military honors will be provided by Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County and the Department of Defense.

Memorial contributions may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut St., Springfield, IL 62704, or Memorial Medical Center Foundation, 1000 Churchill, Springfield, IL 62702.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home – Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield.