Obituaries

Robert L. "Bob" De Baker of Green Bay died Monday, August 6, 2012. He was born on May 1, 1931 in the town of Red River in Kewaunee County to the late Arnold and Hilda (Ouradnik) De Baker. Robert, "Bob", grew up in a small community in Door County where as a boy he and his brother helped run De Baker's Variety Store (a small, rural family-owned business). A 1949 graduate of Luxemburg High School, Bob received his Associate's Degree in Accounting from NWTC where he later taught night classes. Bob joined the Navy and served from 1951-1955 as a 1st Class Aviation Storekeeper, spending two years in Japan. When he returned home to the states he repaired televisions for his family's business in Bayview, just outside of Dykesville, WI.
Bob married Kathryn M. Goich in September 1959 and they made their home initially in Bayview, then later in Green Bay. Bob enjoyed a successful career with West Side State Bank/West Bank & Trust/Valley Bank/M&I Bank as Vice President and Comptroller from 1960-1984. In his retirement, Bob owned and operated several small business ventures; specializing in skill cranes.
Bob was a lifelong blood bank supporter, personally giving many gallons, as well as recruiting others by driving them to the facility. Bob enjoyed playing cribbage with family and friends; he loved to play practical jokes on others and didn't mind when the joke was on him either. A loyal Wisconsin sports fan, he faithfully enjoyed Milwaukee Brewers Baseball and Green Bay Packers Football. Over the years Bob was a loyal viewer of the Lawrence Welk Show and an avid listener of talk radio. Robert was a great chef (hobby) and was proud of his own creation, "Uncle Bob's Chili" (created out of a love for Chili John's Chili). He enjoyed Kroll's hamburgers, Friday night fish frys (perch), and claimed that he never met a donut he didn't like. Bob and Kathryn were parish members of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church in Green Bay.
Bob is survived by his wife Kathryn and their four children: Marisa (John) Wingert, Appleton; Daniel (Kathi) De Baker, Green Bay; Katrina De Baker, Scottsdale, AZ; Dr. Jesse De Baker, Chandler, AZ. They were blessed with six grandchildren: Benjamin, Jacob and Abbrielle Wingert (John & Marisa); Josie Ellison, Olivia and Desiree De Baker (Daniel & Kathi), and one sibling, Leonard F. (Eunice) De Baker, Sun City West, AZ; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 305 North Tenth Street, De Pere, from 10am until 1pm with full military honors to be held at 12:30pm. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the De Baker family. A memorial fund has been established in Bob's name.
Bob will be missed by his family and friends, but his sense of humor will live on in our memory.
"The other day I saw a guy pulling a chain while he walked down the street. I asked him why he was pulling that chain, and he replied, 'did you ever try to push one!?'"
The De Baker family would like to thank hospice and the physicians and healthcare team at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay for their loving and attentive care and support of Bob and our family

Read Robert De Baker's Obituary and Guestbook on www.ryanfh.com.