Robert C "Bob" Carlisle
Robert C. “Bob” Carlisle, age 81, of Arkansaw, died Friday, August 17, 2012, at the Oak View Care Center in Durand, surrounded by his wife and children.
Bob was born on November 30, 1930 in Durand, the son of Bernard C. and Margaret (Harmon) Carlisle. He graduated from Durand High School in 1949 and was the third Harmon generation to go to Alaska, following the footsteps of Grandfather John Harmon with the Gold Rush in the 1890’s, Henry Harmon in 1930 and then Bob in 1950. His first job was with the Alaska DNR, he was sent to Admiralty Island as a fish counter. Bob married Rosemary Schlosser on September 21, 1950 at Holy Rosary Church-Lima and together they had seven children. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on December 1950, went to basic training in Ft. Richardson, Alaska, was assigned to Elmendorf Air Base and served as a Commercial Draftsman in the America’s Arctic Warriors. He was honorably discharged on December 13, 1952 with the rank of Corporal.
After completing his tour of duty, he worked for the Alaska National Guard as Chief Wheel Mechanic and became a licensed bush pilot. Bob and Rosemary homesteaded on 160 acres in Homer, Territory of Alaska, in 1954. While on the homestead, he became ill with Hodgkin’s disease, the first of three bouts with cancer, and was treated at Ft. Richardson, Alaska and Seattle, Washington. He returned to Wisconsin for continued medical treatment, later moved to Washington State, worked at Rose City Bowl as Manager and established a business building wrought iron railings and spec houses. In 1962, Bob was knighted, along with 150 other 4th Degree Knights, in Vancouver, WA. While in Vancouver, Bob and Rose purchased a farm in Porcupine Valley, rural Arkansaw, WI in 1964, they later moved back to Durand and built their family home in 1977. Bob worked for Hurlburt Heating from 1966 until retirement.
Bob loved his wife, his children, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved to cook (trained by John Harmon Chicken Dinners), play cards with his friends, hunt, fish and was a master craftsman. Bob served as Frankfort Town Chairman from 1980-1984, was a member of Eau Galle Sportsman, NRA, Boy Scout Leader, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Ducks Unlimited and life time member of the Elks Club.
Bob is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rosemary; daughter Sandra (Charles) Baker of Athens, AL; son Timothy of Durand; daughter Cynthia (Brian) Anderson of Viroqua; son LTC (R) Thomas (Nancy) of Cataula, GA; son Patrick (Jean) of Downsville, 17 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren, three sisters, Rita Owen, Helen Steer and Margaret Ann Marsh; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Frances and Perry Hurlburt and sister-in-law Barbara Bauer.
He is preceded in death by his parents, son Robert Thurston Carlisle, daughter Kathryn M’Liss Carlisle, brother's John C. Carlisle and William Carlisle, aunts, uncles, maternal and paternal grandparents.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Oak View Care Center and Chippewa Valley Hospital for their tremendous support and care given during the last several months.