Of his many accomplishments in the field of manufacturing, Robert Charles Voigtmann was perhaps most proud of the key role he played in the design and creation of the twistable ice cube tray. “It was just a simple household invention but it’s something everyone has used at one time or another,” said his wife of 59 years, Donna. Mr. Voigtmann, 83, of St. Charles, a mechanical engineer and retired executive of Eaton Corp., died Tuesday, Feb. 10, in Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva, of complications related to a staph infection. Mr. Voigtmann was born in Florence, Italy, where his parents lived for two years while his father sang with the Italian opera. After returning to the states, his family settled in Chicago, although he returned with his parents to Italy for visits many times in his childhood. “He traveled by bicycle all over Italy and Switzerland with his father,” said his wife. “While in Italy, he even remembered having seen Adolf Hitler sitting next to Mussolini in an open car procession.” In World War II, Mr. Voigtmann served in the Army, first as a mechanic for B-17 bombers and later with the Allied occupation forces in Germany. One of his duties in Germany was as a security guard for Gen. Omar Bradley’s 12th Army Group headquarters. After the war, Mr. Voigtmann received an engineering degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Soon after, he began a long career with Eaton Corp. Controls Division, where he was instrumental in the manufacturing of various kitchen products, including icemakers for refrigerators. He also received a patent for the plastic twistable ice cube tray, which he helped design. He retired as manager of operations in 1986 from the company’s office in Carol Stream after 30 years of service. Other survivors include a son, Mark; a daughter, Anne Voigtmann Hunt; and seven grandchildren. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in Yurs Funeral Home, 405 E. Main St., St. Charles.
