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Robert W. Misekow
Born: 9/12/1928
Died: 10/30/2022
Age: 94
Community: Flushing , MI
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Robert Walter Misekow, of Flushing, Michigan, age 94, died Sunday, October 30, 2022, at his home surrounded by family. A Memorial Gathering of friends and family will be from 2-5 p.m. Friday, November 11, 2022, at Rossell Funeral Home. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Robert Walter Misekow was born in Flint, Michigan and grew up on Milton Drive not far from Selby Street where his family operated a small store. He loved playing marbles with friends and collecting buttons for his Spanky McFarland hat. Bob enjoyed sharing stories from his childhood, including how as an eight-year old, he took food to his father and other workers participating in the Sit-Down Strike. He seemed to have an innate sense of history happening, which turned into a love of antiques and collecting.
Bob graduated from Flint Central High School in 1946, then went to Michigan State to pursue a degree in Food Technology, graduating with a B.S. in 1950. He continued his studies and earned a Master’s in Microbiology and Chemistry in 1952, also from Michigan State. He was honored to work with a pioneer in the field, Dr. Fabian. As an undergrad, Bob experimented with fermentation and fondly recalled the happiness that friends and family drew from those first batches of hard cider. Years later, when Bob worked overseas, he extended that skill set to include homemade wine and beer.
Bob began working for the City of Flint as a teenager and eventually managed the Waste Water and Treatment Facility. Bob met his wife Shirley through a mutual friend and the two were wed in 1972, having one child together. After retiring, Bob and Shirley, their daughter Melissa and his step son David moved to Saudi Arabia where Bob would enjoy a second career for the next seven years. The family traveled extensively during those years, and Bob was always happy to photograph and video their travels which took them across Europe, many parts of Asia and eventually Egypt where Robert and Shirley lived when Bob worked in collaboration with USAID.
Across his life, Bob collected various antiques but had a soft spot for cars. He volunteered for a time with the Buick Car Club. He was especially fond of convertibles and lovingly restored a 1955 MGTD. He and Shirley were supporters of the Flint Institute of Art and enjoyed patronizing local and regional artists.
Bob loved nature and was happiest when he was outdoors in “his woods.” Over the years, Bob planted over 1,000 trees on different properties. At his residence in Flushing, he created his own forest with over 500 Scotch pines and about as many Blue Spruce. He was an avid gardener and especially loved planting cucumber and making fermented dill pickles. Later in life, he cultivated a small vineyard and used his own grapes, apples, and pears to make wine and brandies. In his 70s, Bob began a new hobby: each spring, he tapped the maples tree and boiled down 100s of gallons of sap to obtain a precious gallon or so of syrup, which he put up in recycled Grolsch bottles, some which he gifted to local friends and family.
He loved animals and had pets across his life, starting with his beloved dog Timmie as well as several rescue cats from the Middle East. His dog, Dub was his assistant when it was time to pick vegetables and grapes, eating a fair share of every harvest.
He had a sign in his workshop that stated: God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things; right now I am so far behind, I will never die.” Even when he could no longer tackle projects, he talked about the things he would do if he still had time. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him.
Robert is survived by his wife of 50 years, Shirley; their daughter Melissa (Joe) O’Brien; his daughter Carol (Rob Weinert) Evans; his step-children: Sadie (Maggie Murray) Birdfeather, Marc (Denise) Earl, Randall Earl, William (Janet) Earl, David (Kathy) Earl; grandchildren: Brad Earl, Ryan Earl, Erin Chaffin, Alyx Earl, Hillery Earl, Lily Earl, Andrew Earl, Phoebe O'Brien, and Pepper O'Brien; and great-grandchildren: Braden, Londyn, and Phoenix. He was preceded in death by his sister, Vera. |
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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11/11/2022 |
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2:00 PM |
| A Memorial Gathering of friends and family will be from 2-5 p.m. Friday, November 11, 2022, at Rossell Funeral Home. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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11/11/2022 |
| Time: |
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2:00 PM |
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| Location: |
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Rossell Funeral Home
307 E Main
Flushing, MI 48433Get a Map to this location...
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