ROMNEY, WEST VIRGINIA (FORMERLY RACINE) – Robert Burnel “Bob” Egtvedt, 83, of Romney went peacefully to our Lord, on Saturday, March 12, 2016 from his home, with his family around him, while under the care of Hospice of the Panhandle. Bob was born on February 8, 1932 in Racine, Wisconsin, as the only son of the late Surance Gilman “S. Gil” Egtvedt and Ida (Meyer) Egtvedt. Bob Egtvedt was a graduate of Racine’s Lutheran High School who received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1956.
A proud U.S. Army veteran, Bob enlisted as a radio and radar repairman in 1949. While assigned to the Army of Occupation in Japan, he was re-deployed inside the Pusan perimeter in the earliest days of the Korean War. He subsequently was involved in establishing frontline and 8th Army level radio connectivity during the Wars subsequent frontline movements.
Bob’s professional history included work in design and development engineering, as the designer of new commercial products, and as a research and development engineer in the aviation, missile/space, and in the footwear industries. Bob designed and patented (for his employer) a total of 13 patents which included the Gemini orbital capsule retro-rocket control valve, a tank turret mirror control system, and numerous footwear patents to include the first automation of a drum-based industrial leather production facility. He was a national expert in footwear related quality control and research and development. As Director of Research & Develop and Quality Control for Wolverine Worldwide (Wolverine boots & Hush Puppy shoes) in Rockford, MI, and with other companies, he served as the chairman of two national technical committees which set ANSI standards for the footwear industry.
He was a former member of the Grand Rapids, MI Masonic Lodge and Scottish Rite, ran for election as the Alpine Township (MI) Treasurer in 1964, was active in the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), organized and hosted the NWTF Hampshire County “JAKES” Camp, served on the Hampshire County Republican Executive Committee, and was a member of American Legion Post #91.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of nearly 65 years, Darlene (Dykstra) Egtvedt, to whom he was married on September 17, 1953; sisters Ruth Eppler & Beverly Bentley; four children, Randy Egtvedt (grand children: Christopher, Adam, & Brian) of Ada, MI; Scott Egtvedt (grand children: Nicholas & Rachel) of Temperance, MI; the Rev. Richard Egtvedt, Col. USAF (ret) of Oakland, MD; Daniel Egtvedt (grandchild: Logan) of Ashburn, VA; and six great grandchildren. Robert was predeceased by three other sisters: Marilyn Brehm, Lorraine Jandl, and Janet Loewenhagen.
Family and friends are invited to meet at St. Andrew Lutheran Church (1015 4 Mile Road) on Friday, March 18, 2016 from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. for a visitation and time to meet with his family. A service celebrating and honoring his life will follow at 5:30 p.m. His interment with military honors will take place at Country Haven Cemetery in Caledonia (in between Hwy 31 and Short Rd) on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
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