Obit: Becker, Robert C. (1919 - 2009)

Contact: R. Lipprandt
Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Becker, Bowersock, Hales, Main, Marschke, Polacek, Radtke, Schennoch, Snyder, Swan, Wissen

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., WI), Thursday, February 19, 2009, Online Edition

Becker, Robert C. (November 9, 1919 - February 13, 2009)

Robert C. Becker, 89, formerly of Rib Lake, passed away peacefully on February 13 in Wisconsin Rapids, with his family by his side.

Bob was born November 9, 1919 in Prentice to Frank and Cecelia (Schennoch) Becker.

He moved to Rib Lake in 1921 and Rib Lake was his home for the majority of his life. He graduated from Rib Lake High School in 1938. In 1942, Bob graduated from Central State Teacher's College in Stevens Point, majoring in mathematics and science. It was there that he met his future wife, Susan Katherine (Kay) Bowersock. Bob and Kay were married on December 19, 1942 in Milwaukee.

Upon graduation from college, Bob enlisted in the military and was stationed as an aviation cadet at the University of Chicago meteorological air corps. Shortly thereafter Bob was sent to Texas and then to England where he was stationed until the end of World War II. He served in the Eighth Air Force, 349th Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group as a weather officer whose duties included telling the fliers what weather conditions could be expected along their routes. Bob attained the rank of Captain.

In 1946 Bob and Kay moved to Westboro where he began his career in education. He taught mathematics and science along with coaching basketball for Westboro. Eventually he assumed administrative duties for Westboro and Rib Lake. Bob and his family moved to Rib Lake in 1950. He received his master's degree in school administration and served as principal and then superintendent of the Rib Lake-Westboro school district for 33 years, retiring in May 1983. He was extremely proud of being able to oversee the building of the new high school in 1964, the middle school in 1982 and his involvement with 33 classes, graduating over 1,500 seniors.

He served 12 years on the advisory council of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and was a past president of the Central Wisconsin Education Association. Bob loved hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed the hunting shack where he always was the cook. He was a loyal Wisconsin sports fan, enjoying the Brewers, Packers, Bucks and Badgers.

Bob's beloved wife Kay passed away in January 2006. He devotedly visited her every day during the four years she was in the nursing home. He is survived by his daughters, Barbara (Mike Polacek) Becker of Wisconsin Rapids, Patricia (Mike) Wissen of Merrill, and Judy Main of Kingman, Ariz.; and a son, Dr. William (Sylvia) Becker of Wisconsin Rapids.

Surviving grandchildren include Shari Swan of New York, Paul (Kari) Swan of Wisconsin Rapids, Michael Snyder of Costa Rica, Jacqueline and Stephanie Wissen of Madison, Lori Marschke of Prescott Valley, Ariz., Bobby Marschke of Kingman, David Marschke of Lake Tomahawk and Elizabeth Becker of Wisconsin Rapids. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren and his two sisters, Lucille "Lu" Hales of Rib Lake, who passed away four days after him, and Dorothy Radtke of Black Earth.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Cecelia Becker; a brother, Ray Becker; and a granddaughter, Jennifer Swan.

The Dallmann-Kniewel Funeral Home in Rib Lake is handling the arrangements for the family. A combined visitation for Robert and Lu will be held Friday, Feb. 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home, and Saturday morning at 9:30 at the church. A combined Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Rib Lake.