John Robert “Bob” Hults, age 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 28, 2016 in Grafton, WI. He was born on August 6, 1927 to John Murray and Margaret Quigley in Philadelphia, PA. Bob enlisted in the Navy in 1944 and completed basic training in Oklahoma as a firefighter. After two years in the Navy, Bob’s next adventure was a trip to Alaska. On the way, Bob stopped in Menomonee Falls to visit a family friend and met Beverly Philipp. They married on October 14, 1950.
After their marriage, Bob and Bev didn’t settle down. They had many adventures traveling across the country with their six children. As a tile contractor providing for the family, Bob’s other interests included (in his “spare time”), Boy Scout troop leader ’67-’83, hunting, trapping, State Certified Big Tree Measurer, bee/honey raising, certified antler measurer, Wisconsin Buck and Bear Club member over 30 years and past president of the club, past president of the Falls Promenaders Square Dance Club, multi-state deer shows, gold prospecting in California, ginseng raising, sturgeon migration patrol, frog/pond monitoring for the DNR, inventor of The Deer Weighing Tape, developing a multiple-acre prairie restoration, subdivision development, raising chinchillas, training black labs for hunting, metal detecting, and Chapter founder and past president of the Wild Ones prairie enthusiasts group.
Bob is survived by his children Kathleen Hults, Barbara Hults, Rob Hults (Amy), and Craig Hults; grandchildren Jim Edwards, Josh Hults, Jonathan Hults-Ferko, and Barbara Jean Hults; great-granddaughter Kaliah and great-grandson Drake; brother Bill Hults; sister Jenny Dolan (John); sister-in-law Joan Moscicke; nieces; nephews; and other relatives and friends. Bob is preceded in death by his parents, wife Beverly, son Brian, and daughter Terry.
Visitation will be at 12:00 pm on Sunday, September 18, 2016 at the Phillip Funeral Home Chapel (1420 W. Paradise Dr., West Bend, WI 53095). A Memorial Service with Military Honors will begin at 2:00 pm. A luncheon will be held following the services.
Memorials are appreciated to the Open Door Bird Sanctuary (opendoorbirdsanctuary.org).