Obit: Stark, Robert ‘Bob’ John #3 (1936 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Stark, Dearth, Noah, Scheiderer, Golze, Grall, Alt, Keller, Tauchen, Hamel, Gorder, Nielsen, Greene

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/22/2013

Stark, Robert ‘Bob’ John (4 April 1935 - 13 May 2013) With Flag

Robert “Bob” John Stark, 77, of Neillsville died peacefully surrounded by family May 13, 2013, at the Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville. He was born April 4, 1936, at the Owen Hospital, Owen, to Herman John Stark and Myrtle Alice (Dearth) Stark. Bob grew up on the family farm just north of Owen and graduated from the Owen High School in 1954.

Bob worked road construction until he was drafted into the U. S. Army in November 1958, serving until November of 1960. Bob married Arlene Noah Sept. 17, 1960, in Greenwood. He worked at the Greenwood IGA where he and his young family lived until 1963. In that year, they moved to Neillsville, where he took a position at Royal Crown Bottling Co., working in various capacities until 1972.

After taking a correspondence course and numerous sewing lessons from his wife, Arlene, Bob took the plunge into entrepreneurship and opened All In One Upholstery in 1972. He combined upholstery, wood furniture repair and refinishing and auto trim in various degrees throughout its 33-year history, officially closing up the shop in 2005.

If you asked him, though, Bob’s best job was working as a school bus driver for the Neillsville School District, where he drove for 22 years, retiring in 2009. He loved being able to take some special trips, often driving the sports team to events. He especially enjoyed being able to tell the kids on his bus that he remembered driving their parents to school.

Bob also loved being the custodian at the Neillsville United Church of Christ, where he served for 26 years. Bob loved to spend his weekends cheering for his beloved Badgers and Packers. He dabbled in handicrafts and woodworking and served as a volunteer for several years during the Clark County Fair, where his homemade fudge won a blue ribbon numerous times!

Bob will be missed by his wife of 53 years, Arlene; four children, Ginny (Andy) Scheiderer of Hudson, Dania (Roger) Golze, Lawrenceville, GA, Todd (Robin), Prairie du Sac, and Carie (Tom) Grall, Janesville; the pride of his life, his grandchildren, who always called him “Braggin’ Bob,” Abbie and Ben Scheiderer, Dylan and Leigh Grall, Heather Alt, Katie (Scott) Keller, Joshua Alt; and great-granddaughter Kyrie. He is further survived by Uncle Elmer Dearth; Aunt Clara (Dearth) Tauchen; brother-in-law Don (Margaret) Hamel; brothers and sisters, Lorna (Jerry) Gorder, Dick (Barb) Stark, Jim (Kay) Stark; step-brothers, Leon Nielsen and Bob (Joann) Nielsen; half-sister Anne (Larry) Greene; and half-brother Glenn Nielsen; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; one sister Margaret “Peggy” (Don) Hamel; and step-brother, Dennis Nielsen.

The family plans a memorial service at the United Church of Christ, Saturday, June 29, 2013.

In lieu of flowers, Bob wished any memorials be sent to Hope Lodge (cancer.org/HopeLodgeMarshfield) of Marshfield, where the staff provided wonderful service during his illness.