Ishpeming – Robert E. "Bob" Richards, age 91, of 707 N. Pine St. Ishpeming passed away on Friday February 11, 2011 at the Marquette Co. Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming where he had resided since July of 2010.

Robert was born November 9, 1919 in Ishpeming the son of the late Frank and Maude Richards. Bob was a graduate of the Ishpeming High School, Class of 1938. He married Charlotte Lofaro, his high school sweetheart, in September 1941. He went on to work for the Cleveland Cliffs Mining Co. from 1941 – 1944. In November of 1944 he entered the United States Army Air Force, serving as a Corporal in the 1268th Engineer Construction Battalion (because of his mining experience) in both the European and Pacific Theaters during World War II. He returned to N. Pine St. in Ishpeming following the War and had resided there with Charlotte Lofaro, his wife of 66 years.


Bob worked for over thirty years as an underground miner, with CCI and Jones & Laughlin at various local mines including the Mather A, Cliffs Shaft, Hard Ore (Brownstone) and retired from the Tracy Mine in Negaunee in 1969. Bob was one who never let grass grow under his feet and could also be found working at the Richards Family Store on Pine St. in Ishpeming, running an egg distributor route throughout the Upper Peninsula, and finally as an owner and operator of Bob's Bar in Negaunee.

Bob was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, and was a Life Member of the Negaunee VFW Post #3165. Bob loved sports and always enjoyed supporting his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren's sporting endeavors. He will fondly be remembered as one who was always very social and energetic, organizing many family and work related functions. Bob cherished his visits to Alaska, both to spend time with family and for the great hunting and fishing expeditions. In his early hunting years he would hunt rabbits and partridge with his beagles, but more recently he loved feeding the deer, some of which he called by name, at camp on the Escanaba River. Bob had many interests including throwing horseshoe's, bowling, shooting pool, snowshoeing, cutting firewood, playing pinochle, and sitting down to a good cribbage match. If you were one of the lucky one's, you would have received a hand-crafted cribbage board from Bob, but first you would have to have beaten him in a match. Bob also enjoyed singing especially at any family gathering.



Survivors include a daughter Suzanne (Barry) Luchs of Venice, FL, 3 sons – Michael (Kathy) Richards of Ishpeming, James (Sheila) Richards of Marquette and Gerald (Sandra) Richards of Fairbanks, AK, a sister Hazel Carlyon of Gladstone, MI, grandchildren – Lisa (Scott) Ely, Eric (Kelli) Luchs, Jeremy (Beth) Richards, Michael (Paula) Richards, Bradley (Mary) Richards, Kristi Richards, Cory Richards and Michelle Kronner, grand daughter-in-law Naomi Richards of Marquette, 14 great grandchildren- Garner, Holt, Rachel, Ryan, Bobby, Katie, Cole, Natalia, Dalton, McKenzie, Mellisa, Melanie, Jake and Max, sisters-in-law - Janet (Jack) Boase and Peg (Ron) Verch, along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Charlotte, Feb. 2, 2008, his parents, a grandson Tracy Richards, brothers - William "Jack" Richards, Thomas Richards, George Richards, and a sister Marian Richards.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 3:00 – 5:00pm on Tuesday February 15, 2011 at the Wesley United Methodist Church. Funeral services will follow at the church at 5:00pm with the Rev. Scott Lindenberg to officiate, with Military Honors to follow performed by the Negaunee VFW and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #380. Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Bob's grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank Bob's many caregivers over the past couple of years, and in lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Marquette Co. Medical Care Facility, 200 Saginaw Ave. Ishpeming, MI 49849 or the Lake Superior Hospice, 914 W. Baraga Ave. Marquette, MI 49855.