1939
Robert
2009
Robert Porter
September 29, 1939 — May 12, 2009
Robert Joy Porter, age 69, of Winter, Wis. and formerly of Ripon passed away May 12,2009, at his home, with his Wife, family, and Friends by his side, in Winter after a courageous battle with cancer.
Bob was born Sept. 29, 1939, in Garden Prairie, IL, the son of Paul and Mildred (Conkling) Porter. He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1964 and was assigned to a missile-to-air defense system. While stationed in Vicenza, Italy, he met Aida Gabborin. The couple was married April 29, 1961 in Vicenza, Italy. Upon returning to the United States, the couple settled in Rockford, IL, where Bob worked in a machinery shop. In 1967, he moved his family to a dairy farm in Winslow, IL, where they farmed until 1974. The family then moved to a larger dairy farm east of Ripon, where they milked cows and farmed 600 acres until August 1998, when he retired to a lakefront property on Mercer. They later moved to Lake Winter and lived there til the present.
Among friends and family, Bob was known as a master of fixing just about anything, often re-engineering them with parts left over and giving new meaning to the term "MacGyver." He enjoyed many elk and mule deer hunts out West and whitetail hunts on the farm with close friends, sons and grandsons. It was on these hunts out West that Bob earned another nickname, "Gold Dust Porter," as well as a reputation for being a "crack shot." He also enjoyed fishing on Big Green Lake, Long Lake (near Mercer, Wis.) and Lake Winter. In retirement, he spent summers on the lake up North fishing as well as enjoying the outdoors, and vacationed in Florida during the winter. But even retirement didn't slow Bob down; he always stayed busy. Bob will be remembered by all who met him as one of the kindest and most generous individuals, always the first person to help someone in need. He also possessed a wonderful sense of humor. Just a flash of his sly, mischievous grin easily gave away the quick wit and fun sense of humor he possessed.
Bob is survived by his wife of 48 years, Aida Porter; four children Richard (Laurie) Porter of Princeton, Michael (Natarsha) Porter of Melbourne, Australia, Lisa (Darrell) Vossekuil of Ripon and "Gov" Alan (Denise) Porter of Appleton; six grandchildren, Braden, Jessica and Garrett Porter and Tyson, Madison and Chloe Porter; two step grandchildren, Ellen and Michael Vossekuil; one sister, Suzanne Gritzmacher; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Jack, Rex and Rodney Porter.
Visitation for Robert Porter will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009, for 2:00-5:00 pm at the Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home in Ripon.
A Memorial service will be held for Robert Porter at 5:00 pm on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at the Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home in Ripon, with Pastor Karen Stowell officiating. A memorial has been established in his name.
Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home is assisting the family.
www.butzinmarchant.com
Bob was born Sept. 29, 1939, in Garden Prairie, IL, the son of Paul and Mildred (Conkling) Porter. He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1964 and was assigned to a missile-to-air defense system. While stationed in Vicenza, Italy, he met Aida Gabborin. The couple was married April 29, 1961 in Vicenza, Italy. Upon returning to the United States, the couple settled in Rockford, IL, where Bob worked in a machinery shop. In 1967, he moved his family to a dairy farm in Winslow, IL, where they farmed until 1974. The family then moved to a larger dairy farm east of Ripon, where they milked cows and farmed 600 acres until August 1998, when he retired to a lakefront property on Mercer. They later moved to Lake Winter and lived there til the present.
Among friends and family, Bob was known as a master of fixing just about anything, often re-engineering them with parts left over and giving new meaning to the term "MacGyver." He enjoyed many elk and mule deer hunts out West and whitetail hunts on the farm with close friends, sons and grandsons. It was on these hunts out West that Bob earned another nickname, "Gold Dust Porter," as well as a reputation for being a "crack shot." He also enjoyed fishing on Big Green Lake, Long Lake (near Mercer, Wis.) and Lake Winter. In retirement, he spent summers on the lake up North fishing as well as enjoying the outdoors, and vacationed in Florida during the winter. But even retirement didn't slow Bob down; he always stayed busy. Bob will be remembered by all who met him as one of the kindest and most generous individuals, always the first person to help someone in need. He also possessed a wonderful sense of humor. Just a flash of his sly, mischievous grin easily gave away the quick wit and fun sense of humor he possessed.
Bob is survived by his wife of 48 years, Aida Porter; four children Richard (Laurie) Porter of Princeton, Michael (Natarsha) Porter of Melbourne, Australia, Lisa (Darrell) Vossekuil of Ripon and "Gov" Alan (Denise) Porter of Appleton; six grandchildren, Braden, Jessica and Garrett Porter and Tyson, Madison and Chloe Porter; two step grandchildren, Ellen and Michael Vossekuil; one sister, Suzanne Gritzmacher; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Jack, Rex and Rodney Porter.
Visitation for Robert Porter will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009, for 2:00-5:00 pm at the Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home in Ripon.
A Memorial service will be held for Robert Porter at 5:00 pm on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at the Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home in Ripon, with Pastor Karen Stowell officiating. A memorial has been established in his name.
Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home is assisting the family.
www.butzinmarchant.com
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