Robert G. Lantta, 79, of W7870 Highway 77, Iron Belt, Wis., died unexpectedly Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009, in Ironwood.      Bob was born April 24, 1930, in Bessemer, son of the late Fred and Gertrude (Jackson) Lantta, attended the Iron Belt Grade School, and graduated from Iron Belt High School in 1949. He worked at the Iron County Creamery for several years, then farmed with his dad, before entering the U.S. Army on April 23, 1952, serving in Okinawa during the Korean War .      Following his honorable discharge as a corporal on March 10, 1954, Bob returned to Iron Belt and was employed in woods work with Earl Brackett, then worked in the Montreal Mine until the mine closed. Moving to Neenah, Wis., he was employed at Neenah Hardwood Products until 1966, when he returned to Iron Belt and worked at White Pine Copper Co. until his retirement in 1994.      Bob was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ironwood and Iron County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1580. He enjoyed the simple life and loved being with his beloved wife, Shirlee, and daughter, Susan, and loved his son-in-law, Pat, like a son he never had. He enjoyed his "coffee buddies" until his health failed, and with his wife enjoyed the Breakwater Restaurant, as all the girls there became like a caring family. Bob especially loved being on his old Ford tractor. His favorite buddie was his Shih Tzu, Snuggles.      On June 11, 1955, he was married to the former Shirlee J. Warren at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mellen, Wis., by the Rev. Seehause. Shirlee survives.      Also surviving are a daughter, Susan (Pat) Fleury, Ironwood; two brothers, Jack (Rose), Woodruff, Wis., and Richard (Sandy), Waukesha, Wis.; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Raphael Bjork, Ashland, Wis., Glen Scribner, Mellen, Vienna (Eugene) Kaartunen, Erwin Township, and Lucy (Ed) Marita, Marengo, Wis.; and numerous nieces and nephews.      Besides his parents, Bob was preceded in death by a brother, Fred, in infancy; and another brother Fred, May 1, 1996.      Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 21, at 11 a.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5104 E. Margaret St., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Wesley "Bo" Baumeister officiating.      Committal will take place at the church, where full military honors will be accorded by the combined Hurley American Legion Post 58 and Iron Co. VFW Post 1580 Honor Guard.      Luncheon will follow in the church fellowship hall.      Spring interment will be in Hillside Cemetery, Iron Belt.      Relatives and friends may call at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday.      Pallbearers will be Glen Scribner, Ron Keranen, Roger Bjork, Dan Beckman, James Benninger and Eugene Maas.      To view Bob's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.