Robert M. Stafford

Robert “Bob” Major Stafford, age 98 , entered eternal life on Sunday, April 10, 2022, at the DJ Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, MI. He is safely Home with his bride, pain free at last in the restorative care of Jesus. He was born February 8, 1924, in Rhinelander, WI., to Canadian Immigrants, the late Daniel and Louise (Turcotte) Stafford. He was raised in Kingsford, MI with his six siblings. He lost his dominant eye at the age of 10, in a childhood accident, but never allowed his disability to hold him back. In the Army, he was even awarded a medal for his marksmanship, after learning to shoot with his non-dominate eye. At 16 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. In the early 1940s the CCC planted trees and other conservation related projects in Iron County. In 1943 to 1946 he served in the US Army during WWII. In Aug. 2021, he received the Congressional Record of Honor from Congressman Jack Bergman. Bob met the love of his life, Dorothy Wills, while stationed in Rockford, Illinois. They married on May 4, 1946. She preceded him in death in 2019, after 73 years of marriage. He was a jack of all trades; starting out as a mechanic and body repair man, all self-taught. He then bought dump trucks, building roads across the UP. Using his trucks, he helped with various projects at the Iron River Country Club. He was also instrumental in developing and installing their driving range. In 1967 he began the logging business so he wouldn’t be away from home so often. His wife and children worked in the woods with him peeling pulp. Years later, we found out he saved one man’s life. He had to run out to his job site on his day off, when he heard someone yelling for help. He ran over to the man calling for help and found him pinned between logs on his truck. Bob had to run the other man’s equipment, that he was not familiar with, so he was very nervous as one wrong move would have killed the man. He was a God send that day. He was an active member of the American Legion Reino Post 21 for over 50 years. He enjoyed baseball, bowling, golfing, playing pool, fishing, and cards. After retirement he golfed throughout the southern states and even Ireland. He stopped golfing at age 95, after he had a stroke. He lived at home with care from his children until at almost 98 he moved into Jacobetti Veterans Home. He loved teaching the nurses and staff how to play cribbage, so he would have a cribbage partner throughout the day. He loved watching and playing baseball and joined a men’s league in his 80s. He was a life-long fan and loved watching the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions. He loved telling jokes, and sometimes would be laughing so hard he could barely finish. He is survived by his 11 children: Linda Stafford, Patricia (Mel) Robinson, Vivian (Bryan) Clem, Corrine (late Dale) Jacobson, Ronald Stafford, Cynthia (Steve) Naser, Craig (Patti) Stafford, Denise (Rodger) Francavilla, Scott (Peggy Otto) Stafford, Douglas Stafford, Michelle (Scott) Tefft, along with 17 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and his sister Rose Trepasso of Missouri. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy “Dottie” Wills Stafford, son-in-law, Dale Jacobson and grandson, Todd Jacobson. Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River. A funeral service will follow at 12 p.m. at St Agnes Church Iron River, MI, with Fr. Jubish Joseph to offer the Mass of Christian Burial. The West Side Veterans will accord Military Rites after the service. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Resthaven Cemetery with Rev. Ronald Timock to officiate. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert M. Stafford, please visit our flower store.