Robert "Bob" Erickson

Lifelong Ludington resident Bob (Robert Lewis) Erickson – a World War II veteran, businessman, community leader and the father of eight – died June 26, two weeks short of his 92nd birthday. Bob was born July 9, 1923, and attended St. Simon Elementary and High School, graduating with honors in 1941, some six months before the U.S. entered the war. In 1943, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, trained as a pilot and, before being sent to the European war theater in late 1944, married another Ludington native and St. Simon grad, Pat (Margaret Marie) Duplessis. In Europe, Bob piloted C-47 transport planes, ferrying paratroopers and gliders packed with soldiers from France across the border into Germany as the Nazi war machine fell back in retreat. He earned the Air Medal, awarded for service “with distinction above and beyond that expected of professional airmen.” Shortly after the German surrender, Bob received word that Pat had given birth to their first child. And when finally the Japanese surrender ended WWII, Bob shipped home again, greeted by Pat and their three-month-old son. Back from the war and brimming with confidence, Bob immersed himself in community, church, work and family. He returned to his civilian job at Carrom Industries, joined the Knights of Columbus and the Jaycees – and he and Pat worked tirelessly to raise a rapidly expanding family on East Loomis Street, where in 1952 Bob had purchased what came to be the family home for the next 62 years. By 1960, the family had grown to include five boys and three girls, but despite the heavy responsibility, Bob left a top job at Carrom to form a competing game business with partners Bill Mueckler and Albert Del Zoppo. They called it Merdel, using letters from each partner’s names. By 1972, they had forced the old Carrom Industries out of the game business and purchased the company’s remaining assets. As the family and business grew through the 70s and 80s, Bob’s commitment to his church and community did as well. And by the time he retired from Merdel, he was past 70. But he didn’t slow down. He joined the Optimist Club and was instrumental in many of that service organization’s programs, including Salvation Army Bell Ringing, School Mentoring, Bike Rodeo, Essay Contest and more. He was a member of the West Shore Community College Foundation Board of Directors from 1990 to 1995. He sang with the St. Simon Parish choir, where Pat was an organist until her death in 1999. He served as President of the Optimist Club in 1996 and was named Optimist of the Year. He served on the Ludington Zoning Commission. He ran for and was elected to the Mason County Board of Commissioners, representing District 3 for 11 years. In 2001, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Ludington Area Chamber of Commerce, and in his acceptance speech, Bob gave credit for his accomplishments to his wife, his business partners and his community. He enjoyed golf, family gatherings and an occasional Manhattan. At age 85, and again at age 90, he took family members skydiving – something he had wanted to do since his Army Air Corps days. Who could keep up? He is survived by sons Bob (Cheryl), Dennis (Barbara), Jerry (Linda), daughter Janet (George) Sanders, sons Greg (Laurie), Jon (Rebecka), daughters Sara (Scott) Kleon, Lisa (Morgan) Boggs, 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Pat and a brother, Fredrik R. Eriksen. The funeral mass of resurrection will be held at 11:00AM on Wednesday July 1, at St. Simon Catholic Church in Ludington with Father Wayne Wheeler celebrant. The family will receive friends for visitation on Tuesday June 30 at Oak Grove Funeral Home from 5:00 till 8:00PM with the evening vigil service being held at 7:30PM. Burial with military honors by the American Legion Post #76 Honor Guard will follow the service at Pere Marquette Catholic Cemetery in Ludington. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Ludington Area Catholic Education Foundation, 702 E. Bryant Road, Ludington, MI 49431. Please feel free to share a memory or photo with Bob’s family at www.oakgrovefh.com. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Ludington.