On Friday, February 1, 2019, in the midst of helping my family plan for my Father's funeral, I performed the heartwrenching work of writing his obituary. As a writer, I felt it was my duty to craft his final statement. As a photographer, I took and offered the shot that served as his final, lasting image.
Many thanks to our wonderful, patient friends at Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home in Sparta, WI for helping our family conduct a touching, memorable service on February 2, 2019, and for coordinating the communications that alerted his passing to the planet. My Father is buried near my Grandparents, Ken and Virginia Dent, in Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta, WI.
I am preserving a copy of both his image and his obituary in this blog in honor of his memory.
I love you, Dad. You are greatly missed. #lightspeed
Obituary
Robert Edward Lee (Barry) Zuege
Robert "Bob" Edward Lee (Barry) Zuege, 78, of Sparta, WI passed away on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, in Eau Claire, WI.
He was born in Milwaukee, WI to Edward and Margaret (Skwierawski) Barry on September 30, 1940. Edward and Margaret divorced when Bob was 8, and Margaret remarried to George Zuege, who adopted Bob in 1949. Following high school, he joined the Army as a cryptographer and was stationed in Italy.
When his enlistment ended, he completed a Bachelor's degree in Accounting at Spencerian Business College in Milwaukee, WI. Over the course of the next 30 years, Bob worked for the IRS, Chrysler Outboard Corporation, and the Department of Defense. He retired from his position as US Army Auditor in 2000 after decades of working with flag officers around the world.
He married Gail Dent on October 17, 1971, in Park Ridge, IL. They lived in Hartford, WI with their three sons until their Department of Defense commitment stationed them in Texas, Germany and Belgium. The family returned to the United States in 1988, stationed at Fort McCoy near Sparta, WI, where Bob and Gail called home for over thirty years. Bob enjoyed reading, watching movies and the Green Bay Packers, and spending time with the family pets, including beloved retriever, Brett.
He is survived by his wife, Gail (Dent) of Sparta; three sons, Chris of St. Paul, MN, Ryan of Eau Claire, WI, and Robert "Rob" of Roseville, MN; a sister, Beverly (Zuege) Makowski of Menomonee Falls, WI; sister-in-law, Jean Dent, Conifer, CO; daughter-in-law, Lisa, and step-grandson, Zachary.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Barry and Margaret Skwierawski, and his step-father, George Zuege.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 2, at the Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, with Deacon Jo Glasser officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by VFW Post 2112 and American Legion Post 100 will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta.
Visitation for Bob will be Saturday at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of services. Online condolences may be offered to the Zuege family at www.schanhoferfh.com.
The Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
