1942
Robert
2017
Robert "Rob" Anthony Petters
July 12, 1942 — November 1, 2017
Robert Anthony “Rob” Petters, 75, passed from this life into the next on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at Alpha Senior Concepts assisted care center in Green Bay, Wisconsin after an extended battle with Alzheimers.
Rob was born in London, England on July 12, 1942 during the darkest days of WWII. His dad Robert Valentine Petters served in the British Army, while his mom, Isabel (Callaway) Petters took care of their large family. Rob grew up in London, with vacations to his beloved Hayling Island where he learned to ride horses and love the ocean. He attended drama school and acted in many stage shows, as well as multiple British TV shows and movies in his youth.
He came to America as a young husband and father determined to make his own way. He settled first in Buffalo New York, and would later live in Boston Massachusetts, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Cleveland Ohio and Green Bay Wisconsin. For most of his life he worked as a salesman for various entities including Dun & Bradstreet and Pitney Bowes, where he was a regional distributor of mailing equipment. He was a natural salesman, and we all sat in awe as he sold the most complex, advanced digital mailing systems without knowing how to open an e-mail.
He loved all animals, but had a special passion for horses. He was drawn to the ocean, and loved to travel to any body of water he could find. He was a voracious reader and amateur historian, who had an admitted blind spot where the British were involved…they were simply always right. He loved his Steelers, while sure proper football was played with a soccer ball.
He was a charmer, and loved to corral any audience and regal them with tales of his life, or even better the lives of his children and grandchildren, in whom he could see no flaw. He overcame many challenges in his life, including a battle with alcoholism…he was sober for his last 25 years. Although he became an American citizen, he was an Englishman through and through. Perhaps because he always felt a bit lost here in the States, he loved this quote from Sir Walter Scott: "Breathes there the man, with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land!”
Rob is survived by his son, Stephen, daughters Debbie Hanamann, and Kristen McGuire, 10 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He was married to the former Jean Crowley (later divorced) and Jan Griffeth (later divorced). He has three living sisters, Jean Warner, Jill Wilson, Janet Sprinks, and was preceded in death by his parents, as well as a sister Judy and brother John.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff at Alpha Senior Concepts who cared for, loved, and ensured Dad was treated with dignity and respect for the last three years of his life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund ( http://curealz.org/ )
Rob was born in London, England on July 12, 1942 during the darkest days of WWII. His dad Robert Valentine Petters served in the British Army, while his mom, Isabel (Callaway) Petters took care of their large family. Rob grew up in London, with vacations to his beloved Hayling Island where he learned to ride horses and love the ocean. He attended drama school and acted in many stage shows, as well as multiple British TV shows and movies in his youth.
He came to America as a young husband and father determined to make his own way. He settled first in Buffalo New York, and would later live in Boston Massachusetts, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Cleveland Ohio and Green Bay Wisconsin. For most of his life he worked as a salesman for various entities including Dun & Bradstreet and Pitney Bowes, where he was a regional distributor of mailing equipment. He was a natural salesman, and we all sat in awe as he sold the most complex, advanced digital mailing systems without knowing how to open an e-mail.
He loved all animals, but had a special passion for horses. He was drawn to the ocean, and loved to travel to any body of water he could find. He was a voracious reader and amateur historian, who had an admitted blind spot where the British were involved…they were simply always right. He loved his Steelers, while sure proper football was played with a soccer ball.
He was a charmer, and loved to corral any audience and regal them with tales of his life, or even better the lives of his children and grandchildren, in whom he could see no flaw. He overcame many challenges in his life, including a battle with alcoholism…he was sober for his last 25 years. Although he became an American citizen, he was an Englishman through and through. Perhaps because he always felt a bit lost here in the States, he loved this quote from Sir Walter Scott: "Breathes there the man, with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land!”
Rob is survived by his son, Stephen, daughters Debbie Hanamann, and Kristen McGuire, 10 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He was married to the former Jean Crowley (later divorced) and Jan Griffeth (later divorced). He has three living sisters, Jean Warner, Jill Wilson, Janet Sprinks, and was preceded in death by his parents, as well as a sister Judy and brother John.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff at Alpha Senior Concepts who cared for, loved, and ensured Dad was treated with dignity and respect for the last three years of his life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund ( http://curealz.org/ )
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert "Rob" Anthony Petters, please visit our flower store.
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