Robert W. Bartol

Bartol, Robert W (Bob), age 71, of Munising passed away early Thursday morning, the 24th of October 2019 at his home with his loving daughters at his side following a courageous thirteen-month battle with glioblastoma brain cancer.  He was born the 6th of August 1948 in Marquette to Robert J and Sylvia (Carr) Bartol.  Bob grew up in Munising and he and his younger sister, Barbara Jo, had a wonderful childhood with their parents.  Bob graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1966.  He attended Northern Michigan University and in March of 1968 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served two tours in Vietnam as a medic, receiving an honorable discharge in October of 1970.  After his tour of duties, he briefly worked for Lindberg construction until he returned to Munising to begin employment at Kimberly Clark. Bob then married and later raised two daughters in AuTrain.  After 28 years of employment at Kimberly Clark, Bob retired from Neenah Paper on the 1st of June 2006.   He had a lifelong love, respect, and knowledge of nature and especially enjoyed fishing Lake Superior on “Whitefish Louie”, hunting, and being out at camp in Traunik.  One of Bob’s greatest life enjoyments was the special bond he had with his grandchildren teaching them his passion and respect for the outdoors.  Bob especially enjoyed the hours hunting and fishing with his grandson, Gavin.  He often said, he wished he had time to teach them more. He was a unique man, bluntly honest, but a generous man with a heart full of kindness.  It was not unusual for Bob to share his bounty of fish, berries, or flowers with the residents of Alger County.  He enjoyed the revolving door of lifelong and news friends as they spent time riding in the woods, visiting, fishing at the Anna River, or spending time at the Fish House.  Bob was a genuine outdoorsman who found joy in all four seasons.  In the spring he would enjoy making maple syrup and the summer would bring morel hunting, berry picking, and fishing.  In the fall, Bob loved to cut wood and hunt deer and partridge, and the winter would be filled with ice fishing.  He truly loved the land we are blessed to call home and the seasons that surround us.  Bob’s life motto and outlook can be summarized in a Slovenian saying “Kaj Bo Bo” and he would remind his daughters to accept “what will be will be”, and to remember “it’s all small potatoes”.  He will be remembered as a loving son, brother, father, grandfather and friend who will be missed beyond measure.

Bob in survived by his his two daughters and their families - Alissa Bartol and her son Gavin and Brittany (Adam) Gay and their children Jacek, Adalynn, and Brooklynn.  He is also survived by his sister Barb (Roger) Koski; nephews Ryan, Kitt, and Rhett Koski and their families, and many dear friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents Robert J and Sylvia Bartol.

Military honors will be conducted at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising, Michigan on Monday, the 28th of October 2019 at 10:30 am.  Immediately following, we will hold a celebration of life at the American Legion in Munising. Bob’s final resting place will take place at his beloved camp at a later time.

The family requests that any expressions of support be made by contribution to the American Brain Tumor Association (www.abta.org) in Bob’s name, or donations to the family will be redirected to locally charities.