Obituaries

 

Robert Lee Walter

Died Jan. 4, 2015

SUTTONS BAY — Robert Lee Walter, 82, third generation farmer and lifetime resident  of Suttons Bay, passed away at home on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, surrounded by his children.

Bob, as everyone knew him, was born on Jan. 16, 1932 on the homestead farm to the late Frederick Walter Sr. and Evelyn (Schaub) Walter.

Bob worked at Frigid Foods fruit processing plant as a teen where he met the love of his life, Esther.  He also worked in Lansing at a car plant for a time.  He was drafted into the Army in 1951, trained in El Paso, and was stationed in Mannheim, Germany during the Korean War.  Upon his return in 1954, Bob married the former Esther Lemaster and they resided in the Suttons Bay area.

Bob and Esther built the Walter Motel, which Esther ran while Bob worked at Purvis Bros. for 20 years.  They had the opportunity to purchase the Ed Dumas farm and proceeded to move their 3 children to the cherry farm, which they farmed for the next 4 years.  They then had the chance to purchase the homestead cherry farm from his older brother, Fred, and moved there in 1983, which they also farmed for the next 15 years.

Bob was a lifelong member of the VFW Little Finger Post 7731.  He was an avid hunter and fisherman.  He took many trips to Wyoming, S. Dakota for prairie dog hunting, and Canada.  He was the last founding member of the 8-Ball Club in Curtis, MI, where he made countless trips over the Mighty Mac Bridge, (and before the bridge by ferry), for 50 years, hunting rabbits and deer while spending time with his closest friends.  If you ever shared an afternoon with him listening to the dogs bringing the rabbit around or shared a lunch with him out in the “Deer Woods” then you were a close friend of Bob’s.  He always enjoyed the simpler things in life – the outdoors, time with his grandsons and family, and a good dog that would hunt.

Bob is survived by his children, Doris Walter and Matthew (Shelly) Walter; grandchildren, Luke Walter and Rob Walter; brother, Tom (Linda) Walter; sisters, Bernice Gustin and Pat (Bob) Forton.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Esther; son, Mark; and infant daughter, Dorothy; siblings, Johanna (Ben) Neimann, Fred (Winnie) Walter, Joseph Walter, Betty (John) Fatura, Sylvester “Bess” (Margaret) Walter, Mary (Ray) Moldenhauer, and Ralph (Leona) Walter; and brother-in-law, Fred Gustin.

A gathering will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 9, with the rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m., at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. The Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, at St. Michael’s Church of Suttons Bay.  Burial will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery. Father Leonard Paul will serve as celebrant.

Memorials may be directed to St. Michael’s Church, P.O. Box 9, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 and/or to Munson Hospice, 1105 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI 49684.

Please share thoughts and memories with Bob’s family online at www.martinson.info.