Robert "Bob" J. Raphoon was born to eternal live on March 8, 2009, at the age of 80.

Bob was born on March 14, 1928, to Joseph J. and Sophia (nee Dobeck) Raphoon in Chicago. He proudly attended Lane Technical Institute in Chicago. In 1945 he began his career in the Merchant Marines. In 1948 he joined the Army and in 1952 he changed to service in the Air Force. On August 29, 1952, he married Nancy Leigh (nee Kastenschmidt). Bob was a 20-year military veteran and served in the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1967, then he retired from the military with full honors in 1968. He began a career with the Federal Aviation Administration for an additional 15 years before retiring in West Bend. Bob then served 15 years on the West Bend Police and Fire Commission and was a volunteer for the Full Shelf Food Pantry of West Bend. He was a member of the American Legion and Trinity Lutheran Church of West Bend.

Bob will be deeply missed by his wife of 56 years, Nancy, and children, Cynthia (Thomas) Watson of Germantown, Jennifer Ruesch of Greenfield. He was the proud "Papa" of Katherine and Daniel Ruesch of Greenfield and Benjamin Watson of Germantown. He is further survived by his brother, Joseph Raphoon; brother-inlaw, Richard Kastenschmidt; sisters-in-law Annette Green, Virginia Tesch, Judith (Ronald) Sherwin, Sandy Raphoon; son-in-law Robert Ruesch; nieces, nephews, relatives and many friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Eugene and Ralph.

A memorial service will be on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at 4 p.m. at the Phillip Funeral Home Chapel of West Bend with the Rev. David Schoob officiating. Inurnment will take place at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Saturday, March 14 from 2 p.m. until time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Doctors Without Borders (P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown MD 21741-5030).

A special deeply heart-felt thank you goes out to the staff at the Engel House for all the loving and extraordinary care and support they shared with Bob and our family. He truly felt at home there. We would also like to thank Dr. Robert Gibson and his staff at the West Bend Clinic and Odyssey Hospice for their wonderful and loving care especially in his last days. Without the Engel House and Odyssey we would not have made this last journey with Bob so incredible.

The Phillip Funeral Home of West Bend is assisting the family. www.phillipfuneralhome.com.