Obituary for Robert Gordon Briggs Robert “Bob” Gordon Briggs, was born on June 23, 1924 in Thorp, WI, to Raymond and Hannah Briggs, and was one of 11 children. He grew up in Thorp and Hayward, and graduated from Winter High School in 1942, where he was senior class president. After high school, Bob enlisted in the Navy, to both serve his country, and to achieve his dream of going to college (thru the G.I. Bill).
In 1947, he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin and became a Badger. While traveling home thru Marshfield, on break during his Junior year, he met his soon to be wife (Marles “Tootsie” Jeanette Rausch). Bob graduated from University of Wisconsin’s School of (electrical) Engineering (making him the first in his family to graduate from college), in May of 1951.
Bob and Marles were married on Sept. 1, 1951, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN. At the time, Bob was employed by the Navy Dept.
as an electronics engineer at the Bureau of Ships, at Great Lakes. After their marriage, Bob and Marles lived briefly in St. Louis, MO and Waukagen, IL. During the Korean War, Bob, who was in the Navy reserves, was recalled into the Navy with duty in Washington, D.C., where they lived for a year.
After his discharge from the service, they settled in Kenosha, WI, where their three children were born and who were baptized at Mount Zion Lutheran Church, where they were members. The settling down in Kenosha was short lived however, since in Nov. of 1960, Bob was transferred to the Naval Training Device Center in Hawaii for a two year assignment.
Two years living in Kailua, then became four years, and the love of the islands then became too strong for them to leave. Though they still visited Wisconsin about every two years or so (and had family and friends from there visit them in Hawaii), it was clear that they had settled for the last time, and Kailua was now their home. In 1974, Bob retired from the Navy/Civil Service, and had more time to spend on other things.
Bob and Marles continued their involvement with Saint Mark Lutheran Church in Kaneohe, where they’ve been active members since 1960. Bob also joined NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees) Kailua Chapter 570, where he was elected State NARFE Treasurer and held that position for several years. He was also involved in the Shaklee Corp.
(a direct sales company focusing on All Natural Vitamins, Supplements and Cleaning products), and found time to volunteer for Windward Oahu’s Neighborhood Watch Program, several Citizen Activist groups, many charities and was a regular bowler on various leagues that bowled at Pali Lanes. Bob was preceded in death by his wife Marles in 2008 and seven of his siblings. He is survived by his three children: daughters Robin Berry and Debra (Michael) Standley and his son Curt (Vicki) Briggs; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren; also his brother Larry (Dode) Briggs and sister Vieva Henkel and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services and interment are to be announced. To send flowers to the family of Robert Gordon Briggs please visit our Sympathy Store.
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