Robert A. Calcari

Robert A. Calcari, 90, of Iron Mountain passed from this life at the Oscar G. Johnson V.A. Medical Center on April 15, 2019. Bob was born in Iron Mountain on January 29, 1929. He was the son of Bert and Mary (Welcher) Calcari. He was a lifelong resident of this area and attended Breitung Township Schools. He married the former Carol Oien on Dec. 17, 1955 at St. Mary & St. Joseph Church in Iron Mountain. In 2018 they celebrated 63 years of marriage. They had three children: Susan, Linda and Greg. Bob worked for Bacco Construction Co. of Iron Mountain and several other places of employment until 1950 when he was hired as a switchman with the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. He also worked for American Cablevision as a side job, which he liked very much because it was in the early days of Cable TV in Iron Mountain. He temporarily left the railroad in 1951 because he was drafted into the armed forces. He served in Korea during the war and also served in Japan. He was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1953 and returned to the Chicago Northwestern Railroad until retirement in 1990. Bob was active in many clubs, including the Elk’s Club, the Sagola Township Sportsmen’s Club, the American Legion and others. He loved to golf and was a member of Oak Crest Golf Club for many years. He also had a card club at his camp for many years called “Cal’s Camp” in Pine Creek on Wednesday nights. They later changed it to Wednesday afternoons and just gabbed and “solved the World’s Problems” according to Bob. He said many guys from town would also drop in. He was an avid Green Bay Packer fan and was a season ticket holder for 51 years when he turned the tickets over to his son, Greg. He and his wife Carol went to many Packer games with family and friends. A highlight of his life was going on Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in 2014, sponsored by the Upper Peninsula Honor Flight. They flew the veterans from Escanaba to D.C. to spend a day seeing the Memorials and patriotic sights in the capital. It was made all the more enjoyable for him because his brother Albert went with him on the same flight. Albert is also a Korean War Veteran. Their pictures were shown in D.C. in the Daily News in 2014. He enjoyed his children’s and also his grandchildren’s activities and sporting events, both in Iron Mountain and Neenah, Wisconsin. He loved to dance, especially the polka. He and his wife went to many dances, lately at the Crystal Lake Senior Center. They spent many winters in Florida and enjoyed spending time with other people from Iron Mountain also there for the winter. He was much loved and will be sadly missed. He is survived by his wife, Carol; daughter, Linda Calcari of Madison, WI and Iron Mountain; and son, Greg (Janet) Calcari of Neenah, WI. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Andrea, Lauren and Curt Calcari. He is also survived by a sister, Lucille (Dave) Forstrom of Iron Mountain and brother, Albert (Laverne) Calcari of Waukegan, Illinois and Iron Mountain. He was preceded in death by a beloved daughter, Susan of Madison, WI; a brother, David Calcari of Menominee, MI; and sisters, Katherine Nedjlik of Milwaukee, WI and Doris, who died when eight years old. The family wishes to thank the staff at the V.A. Hospital for their excellent and compassionate care of Bob during his many extended stays the last four years at the hospital. Visitation will be from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 20 at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 pm at the funeral home. Chaplain Herb Becker will officiate. A luncheon will be served at the American Legion Hall in Iron Mountain following the service. Burial will be in Iron Mountain Cemetery Park. The Uren-Cooper-Johnson American Legion Post 50 will conduct military graveside honors. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Robert Calcari online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Robert A. Calcari

January 29, 1929 - April 15, 2019