Retired Col. Robert F. Wanek, 83, died after a lengthy illness at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iron Mountain, April 5, 2008. He was born January 23, 1925, and grew up in Ironwood. Bob graduated from Ironwood High School, class of 1942. He married Caroline Gedda of Bessemer, in Chicago, August 1947. Bob began his 30-year military career serving in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1948. During World War II he was a torpedoman¹s mate. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1950. He entered the U.S. Army in June 1950, as a 2nd lieutenant and was assigned to the 84th Engineer Construction Battalion in Korea. He served two tours in Europe and two tours in Vietnam. His transportation battalion ferried the last American equipment out of France in 1967. The Colonel was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon for four years. His last assignment was Worldwide Director of Distribution for the Army Air Force Exchange Service in Dallas. After his retirement in 1975, he and his wife returned to the Upper Peninsula and made their home on the shores of Lake Gogebic. During his retirement years, he served the community as a county commissioner and president of the Lake Gogebic Improvement Association. He is survived by his wife, Caroline Wanek, Lake Gogebic; three daughters, Barbara (Phil) Dunnet, Dallas, Tex.; Susan (Gib) Brumback, Spokane, Wash., Carol (Don)Campbell, Denver, Colo.; one son, Michael (Jan) Wanek, McKinney, Tex.; 11 grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. A private family memorial service will be held. Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Robert's family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com or letters of condolence may be sent to N11090 M64, Marenisco MI 49947-9732. Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, is serving the family.