Robert Gerald Porter Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Robert Gerald Porter, 84, died June 18, 2013 at home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born June 2, 1929 in South Haven, MI to Russel L. and Mary W. (Clymer) Porter. He married Barbara Elizabeth Zinn June 16, 1951 in Grand Rapids, MI. Together they raised 6 children and were married for almost 47 years when she passed away on March 9, 1998. He was introduced to his second wife, Patricia M. (Ranta, Van Alst) Ponczek by their children, and they were married July 17, 1999 in Cadillac, MI. Bob graduated from South Haven High School in 1947. He attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN and graduated as a Civil Engineer in 1951. While at Purdue, Bob was a member of the Purdue Glee Club and sang around the country as well as in Europe. After college, Bob worked for Dow Corning Corporation in Midland. He then became registered as a Professional Engineer in 1957 and began his 28 year tenure with the U.S. Forest Service, first in Wisconsin and then in Cadillac, as the Chief Engineer of the HuronÃ¢â‚¬â€œManistee National Forests, retiring in 1986. He was a member of the Cadillac First Congregational Church where he was a choir member, a trustee and head of the Bequest Committee. He was a member of the Society of Professional Engineers, the Cadillac Barbershop Chorus and the Cadillac Community Chorus. Bob enjoyed giving back to his community by volunteering at the hospital in Fort Myers, delivering Meals on Wheels and working at the New Hope Shelter. He enjoyed music, traveling, walking, clock making and repair, flying with Pat in the Cessna and swinging on the porch with family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Ponczek Porter, daughter Susan Hodgson of Grand Rapids and her children Thomas (Emily) and Robert (Kelly), son David (Judith) Porter of Cadillac and his children Timothy, Michael (Susan), and Jonathan, daughter Elaine (Steven) Brooks of Cadillac and their children Mark, Chad (Katie) and Scott, daughter Mary (Richard) Stubbs of East Lansing and their children Perry and Bonnie, daughter Angela (Timothy) Brugger of Cadillac and their children Elizabeth (Olivier) Pages, David and Benjamin, and daughter Laura Porter of Cadillac and her children Elise (Ryan) Repko and Erin Thomsen; great-grandchildren, Owen Hodgson, Alana Hodgson, Caleb and Ethan Porter, Gracie Porter, Adeline, Emilia and Tate Brooks, and step-children, Ann (Robert) Neyer of Mt. Pleasant and their daughter Natalie, Edward (Julie) Van Alst of Cadillac and their children Andrew, Kassie and Elizabeth, Andrew Van Alst of Cadillac, Audrey (Barry Tufford) Van Alst of Cadillac, and honorary daughter, Kelly McCann of Cadillac. He is also survived by his sister, Loris Lewis of South Haven, and sisters-in-law, Muriel Engle of Oceanside, CA, Laini Zinn of Chicago, IL, DeeDee Ptaszek of New Albany, OH, and Pamela Louis of Columbus, OH. Robert was preceded in death by his first wife Barbara Porter, and parents, Russel L. and Mary W. Porter. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on June 22, 2013 at the First Congregational Church, 200 East Harris Street in Cadillac. The Rev. Dr. G. Forrest Hoppe will officiate. Cremation has taken place and his final resting place will be next to Barbara in the Cadillac Maple Hill Cemetery. Visitation is 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on June 21, 2013 at Peterson Funeral Home, 205 E. Cass Street. Memorial Tributes may be made to the First Congregational Church Bequests and Special Gifts Fund, 200 E. Harris St., Cadillac, MI 49601.

Robert Gerald Porter

June 2, 1929 - June 18, 2013