Robert Thom Whitcomb

ROBERT THOM WHITCOMB

Fiesta Court, Appleton

Age 77, died Monday, January 13, 2003, at his home with his family. Robert was born on December 30, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska, to the late Elmer and Alma (Thom) Whitcomb. He married Gretchen Lageson on July 31, 1954; she survives. Following two years of college, where he roomed with Japanese-American students and learned of their loyalty to America, Robert was drafted in 1944 and served his country in the U.S. Navy, specializing in electronics. His Navy career brought him to the Pacific theatre, where he viewed the destructive force of the bomb. While in Hiroshima, he had a brief reunion with a few of his Japanese-American friends from college, who were serving in the United States Army. Following the war he earned a B.S. in Business with a major in Industrial Management. He completed three years of graduate work at Purdue University, earning a M.S. degree in Industrial Psychology and completed all the requirements for a Ph.D, except for the dissertation. Robert spent 40 years in Personnel, employed variously at the Marathon Corporation, Presbyterian National Staff, Holden Printing, Armour & Company. For the past 17 years he has been associated with Lawrence University. In regard to his childhood, Robert said, “My choice of parents was one of the best decisions I ever made. My mother was a model minister’s wife and my father was one of the finest men I have ever known, bar none.” He later said, “It became clear to me that the highlights of my life focus mainly on certain special people and experiences.” Robert was also very involved with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and was proud to have been at the Lincoln Monument when Dr. Martin Luther King gave his “I have a dream” speech in 1963. Robert was proud to be a part of the family of the Memorial Presbyterian Church and also proud to be associated with the Kiwanis-Golden K. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Gretchen; his daughter, Cynthia Whitcomb, Madison; his son Steven (Anh) Whitcomb and their daughter, Courtney, and son, Matthew, Sterling, Virginia; and also a part of his family, Jane and Stephen Kresin and their son Jonathan, Green Bay; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 17, 2003, at MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 803 East College Avenue, Appleton, with Rev. Charles Valenti-Hein officiating. Friends may call directly at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his name.
WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 North Superior Street
Appleton 920-739-1231
www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com