Robert Debard

Robert Bruce DeBard was born June 3, 1937 to Raymond A DeBard and June G. Reynolds DeBard in Muskegon, Michigan. At home were older brothers Tom and John. When Bob was three years old the family moved into a house on Lake Harbor Rd in Norton Shores that his father had built. The house was across the street from a hill with Lake Michigan on the other side. The boys spent many days walking through the woods and swimming in the lake. Usually with them was Oscar, their pet duck and Tippy the dog. Oscar refused to walk up the hill so the boys had to carry him. When Bob was 13 the family moved to Fruitport where his father ran the Old Dutch Gas station and Skelgas business. His father would open an appliance store in a building down the street and would eventually turn that into a Bowling Alley which still operates today. Bob went to Fruitport School during his elementary days and recalled getting to listen to the World Series on the lawn one day. He later went on to Muskegon Heights High School. Bob didnt care much for school and was rather small so he didnt get involved with sports. He decided to quit school and join the Air Force when he was 17. He became a dental technician and was stationed in France. While serving in France he was in an automobile accident the very same day his brother died Tom died from a cerebral hemorrhage back home. He was able to return home after recovering from his injuries to be with his mother. Bob was discharged from the service in 1958 at the rank of Staff Sergeant. After returning home he connected with Phyllis Sauders at beach party planned by their friends. The two had actually met in elementary school years ago. Bob had a black 1958 Chevy Impala that also caught Phylliss eye and he took her for a ride that day. He would tell his mother that he met the girl he was going to marry that day. He and Phyllis fell in love and were married on July 18, 1959. On December 3, 1960, they were blessed with their first son, Mark. Bob was working at Liberty Loan Company at that time and when he was promoted to manager they transferred him to Grand Rapids where son Tim was born in 1962. Bob didnt like the loan business much so when his father installed automatic pin setters at the bowling alley he went to work with him as a pinsetter mechanic and moved the family back to Fruitport, where they lived until his father sold the bowling alley. Bob then worked in a few different shops, which he despised, including Bennet Pump until getting laid off. He finally found work as a dental technician for Dr. Nolen in Muskegon. He worked there for a few years and then took a position with Dr. Colburn and Hunt in the Midtown Building in Downtown Muskegon. Daughter Kay was born in 1968 to complete his perfect family. Bob eventually moved the family to Fruitport where he set up his own dental lab in the basement and successfully operated his own business until retiring in 2012. Bob and Phyllis purchased 7 acres of land in Walkerville on a lake. They started out with a travel trailer on the land and then in 2001 built a cottage. They loved building fires, cooking potatoes in the coals, steaks over the open flame and watching the stars and the moon at night. Bob worked hard cutting trees to clear the land until it looked just like a park. They enjoyed it for many years until Bobs health started to fail. Bob lived a good life. He enjoyed bowling and playing golf at the Fruitport Country Club and he was very good at both sports. They had boats and snowmobiles through the years and he also owned several Austin Healy Sports cars. He and Phyllis enjoyed Dancing to the Big Bands at The Elks Park pavilion and working the Champaign brunches at the Elks Lodge. He was a former member of the Masonic Temple, the American legion and The Fruitport Eagles. Bob and Phyllis enjoyed traveling. There were family trips to Cedar Point and Disney World. Road trips to visit his brother John, who live near Washington D.C., Hilton Head Island to visit Bob's father, and a memorable trip on Route 66 to Arizona and then back through the Grand Canyon. They also visited brother John and sister Shirley in Florida. There were also fun trips to Mackinaw Island, the Upper Peninsula, Presque Isle and drives around Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Bob enjoyed listening to music from the Frank Sinatra days and also liked reading Wilbur Smith books. He loved peppermint candies (had them all over the house), watching the Price is Right, Golf tournaments and Movie Westerns on TV. Life was not always easy for Bob. His son-in-law Royce passed away in 2007. His daughter Kay died in 2011, his son Tim was paralyzed in a diving accident, and Bob and his son Mark were diagnosed with cancer at the same time in 2012. But he faced his challenges in stride and cared for his family deeply. He wasnt always the best at showing his feelings but he was very generous with his children. He stayed as active as he could during this last year and even played golf earlier this summer. Eventually the disease was too much for Bob and he died on July 12, 2015 at the Poppen Hospice Home at the age of 78. Bob is survived by his Wife, Phyllis; sons, Mark DeBard of Fruitport, Timothy DeBard of Byron Center; grandchildren, Wyatt Robert DeBard Slater & Royce (Eleanor) Slater II; brother, John (Donna) DeBard of FL; sister-in-law, Margaret (fiance, Bob Storch) Hulka; several nieces and nephews; his pesty cats, Pumpkin, Twix and Hershey. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Kay in 2011 & Kay's husband, Royce Slater I; brother, Tom; sister-in-law, Shirley Dornbos; brother-in-law, Paul Hulka. A graveside service will be held Saturday, July 18, 2015, 3:00 pm at Fruitport Township Cemetery with a Potluck Reception at Clock's Sunset Celebrations in Fruitport immediately following. MEMORIAL: In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to Metro Health Hospital Assisted Breathing Center.