Robert W. VanOuwerkerk, 84, of Hurley, died Sunday morning, Feb. 15, 2009, in Ironwood. He was born Oct. 23, 1924, in Ironwood, Mich., son of the late Henry and Mabel (Lee) VanOuwerkerk, attended the Saxon Grade School, and graduated from Saxon High School in 1942. He worked on the family farm in Gurney and was employed in the Montreal Mine until the mine closed in 1962. He then worked for American Motors in Kenosha for two years. Returning to Hurley in 1964, Bob worked at White Pine Copper Co. for many years, retiring as a security guard in 1989. He enjoyed woodworking and tinkering in his garage, and hunting and fishing in his earlier years. He especially enjoyed feeding his chipmunks that would come up to him in his yard. He was a wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather who loved his family. Bob was married to the former Peggy "Smiley" Secor on April 13, 1945, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, by the late Rev. Peter Meyer. Peggy preceded him in death on Nov. 8, 2004. Surviving are a son, Jim (Lisa), Green Bay; four daughters, Rita Mach, Las Vegas, Carol Nadin, Umatilla, Fla., Jean (Mike) Zarzycki, Dayton, Minn., and Mary Kay (Henry) Sutterfield, Erwinville, La.; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; a brother, James (Elaine) VanOuwerkerk, Minong; a sister, Patricia Dennis, Saxon; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents and wife, Bob was preceded in death by a son, Billy VanOuwerkerk, in 1971; and three grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 19, at noon, at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin officiating. Rite of Committal will take place at the funeral home. Spring burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 a.m.until noon on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Regional Hospice, N-10561 Grandview Lane, Ironwood, Mich. 49938. To view Bob's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.