Obituary for Robert R. Jacquart
Robert R. Jacquart, 93, of
Ironwood, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, in
Ashland. He was born October 17, 1917, in Ironwood, son
of the late Louis and Florence (Bartlett) Jacquart. He graduated from St.
Ambrose High School in 1934 and from Gogebic Community College in 1936. In the
fall of 1936 he entered the St. Lawrence Seminary and graduated in
1939. Robert enlisted in the Army in the fall of
1940 and was sent to Chanute Field in Chicago. He went to school to become an
airplane mechanic and was promoted to sergeant and later to staff sergeant and
then technical sergeant. He flew 35 missions over Germany in WWII as the top
turret gunner on a B-17 named "Mary Alice" while serving in the 401st Bomb
Group. Before being honorably discharged in 1945, Robert was awarded the Air
Medal with four Bronze Oak Leaf clusters, an American Defense Service Ribbon,
the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Battle Stars
and one Overseas Service Bar. In December of 1943, Robert married the love
of his life, the former Catherine "Kay" Lopez. They were married 67 years at the
time of his death. In 1956 he joined the Ironwood Fire Department
and retired 21 years later. While keeping his full-time job at the
Ironwood Fire Department, he founded Jacquart Mfg. in 1958. Jacquart Mfg. became
Jacquart Fabric Products in 1976 and was sold to Robert's son Bob in 1983 and
Robert humbly continued working there until July of 2010 at age 92. Robert was a lifetime member of St.
Ambrose/Our Lady of Peace Church. For 25 years he volunteered to lock up the
church and school buildings each evening. His quiet presence was very much
appreciated. He belonged to Ironwood American Legion Post 5 and the Ironwood
Kiwanis Club. Robert kept himself in great physical condition by running his
first marathon at age 60, working almost every day of his life and even riding a
stationary bike in his home up until late June. He also enjoyed reading and
being with his family. Surviving are his wife, Kay; his daughter,
Kathy (Fred) Friedman; son, Bob (Denise) Jacquart; grandchildren, Gina (Dave)
Thorsen, Jessamy (David) Piepho, Kari Jacquart and special friend Justin Soffa,
and Treff (Heidi) Friedman; five great-grandchildren, Jaustin, Titus, Keira,
Mattie and Sydney; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Robert was preceded in
death by sisters, Florence Ruth Jacquart in infancy, Evonne Jagla and Mary
Louise Geach; and brothers Lionel, Eugene and David. In accordance with Robert's wishes, cremation
has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
on Friday, July 29, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in
Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl Pepin, celebrant, and the Rev. Louis Bracket,
con-celebrant. Rite of Committal will take place in the St.
Joseph Family Room at the church, where a flag presentation ceremony will be
accorded by representatives of the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor
Guard. A luncheon will follow in the parish
hall. Relatives and friends may call in the St.
Joseph Family Room at the church from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Friday. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of
Peace. To view Robert's obituary online, sign his
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
Ironwood, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, in
Ashland. He was born October 17, 1917, in Ironwood, son
of the late Louis and Florence (Bartlett) Jacquart. He graduated from St.
Ambrose High School in 1934 and from Gogebic Community College in 1936. In the
fall of 1936 he entered the St. Lawrence Seminary and graduated in
1939. Robert enlisted in the Army in the fall of
1940 and was sent to Chanute Field in Chicago. He went to school to become an
airplane mechanic and was promoted to sergeant and later to staff sergeant and
then technical sergeant. He flew 35 missions over Germany in WWII as the top
turret gunner on a B-17 named "Mary Alice" while serving in the 401st Bomb
Group. Before being honorably discharged in 1945, Robert was awarded the Air
Medal with four Bronze Oak Leaf clusters, an American Defense Service Ribbon,
the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Battle Stars
and one Overseas Service Bar. In December of 1943, Robert married the love
of his life, the former Catherine "Kay" Lopez. They were married 67 years at the
time of his death. In 1956 he joined the Ironwood Fire Department
and retired 21 years later. While keeping his full-time job at the
Ironwood Fire Department, he founded Jacquart Mfg. in 1958. Jacquart Mfg. became
Jacquart Fabric Products in 1976 and was sold to Robert's son Bob in 1983 and
Robert humbly continued working there until July of 2010 at age 92. Robert was a lifetime member of St.
Ambrose/Our Lady of Peace Church. For 25 years he volunteered to lock up the
church and school buildings each evening. His quiet presence was very much
appreciated. He belonged to Ironwood American Legion Post 5 and the Ironwood
Kiwanis Club. Robert kept himself in great physical condition by running his
first marathon at age 60, working almost every day of his life and even riding a
stationary bike in his home up until late June. He also enjoyed reading and
being with his family. Surviving are his wife, Kay; his daughter,
Kathy (Fred) Friedman; son, Bob (Denise) Jacquart; grandchildren, Gina (Dave)
Thorsen, Jessamy (David) Piepho, Kari Jacquart and special friend Justin Soffa,
and Treff (Heidi) Friedman; five great-grandchildren, Jaustin, Titus, Keira,
Mattie and Sydney; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Robert was preceded in
death by sisters, Florence Ruth Jacquart in infancy, Evonne Jagla and Mary
Louise Geach; and brothers Lionel, Eugene and David. In accordance with Robert's wishes, cremation
has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
on Friday, July 29, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in
Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl Pepin, celebrant, and the Rev. Louis Bracket,
con-celebrant. Rite of Committal will take place in the St.
Joseph Family Room at the church, where a flag presentation ceremony will be
accorded by representatives of the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor
Guard. A luncheon will follow in the parish
hall. Relatives and friends may call in the St.
Joseph Family Room at the church from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Friday. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of
Peace. To view Robert's obituary online, sign his
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.