Robert Homer “Bob” Douglass, 99, died Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 at Iola Living Assistance in Iola, Wisconsin.
Per his wishes, the body was cremated, and he will be laid to rest next to his parents in Osage, IA. A private memorial service will be planned for a later date.
Robert, the son of Harry and Elsie (White) Douglass, was born January 28, 1917 on the family farm in Hayward, WI. The family moved to Northwood, Iowa in 1919. Bob graduated from Northwood High School in 1935. Following high school, he attended Grinnell College and later, the University of Wisconsin-Stout, at which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1941. In 1949, he completed his Master’s degree in education from Stout. Robert married Hortense (Sue) Richardson on June 27, 1941, and from this union four children were born. The couple later divorced. Robert taught industrial arts in the public school systems of Mineral Springs, NC; Marshfield, WI, and Algoma, WI over a 19-year period from 1941 to 1960. In 1960, Robert began a 15-year career with the U.S. government working for the State Department. He traveled to the countries of Panama, Vietnam, Thailand, and Afghanistan helping to establish vocational education schools within those countries. He completed his work in Washington, D.C. in 1975 when he retired at the age 58. After his retirement, Robert settled in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he married his second wife, Jackie, in 1986. During his retirement, he enjoyed working at Heritage Hill in Green Bay, creating wood working projects in his basement, and spending the winters in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with other snowbirds. He also enjoyed cheering on the home team Green Bay Packers and writing about his life’s adventures.
Robert is survived by his children: Anne (Gordon) Albertson, Jacksonville, NC; Ellen (Tom) Rineck, Marion, WI, and Roger Douglass, Algoma, WI, as well as six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Mary (Douglass) Gunderson, and both his wives.