Robert E. Piester, age 74, of Gladstone formerly of Bark River, MI passed away Friday, February 2, 2007 at the Pinecrest Medical Care Facility in Powers, MI. He was born January 14, 1933 in Shenandoah, Iowa to Walter and Mildred (Swallow) Piester. Robert spent 23 years in the military. He started his military career in a naval mobile construction battalion, then worked as a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force and concluded his career teaching maintenance management courses for jet engines. He served his country proudly in the U.S. Navy from January 9, 1952 through December 15, 1955, during the Korean Conflict and also with the U.S Air Force from February 14, 1958 through January 1, 1975, part of that time during the Vietnam War. Robert retired from the military in 1975 as a Master Sergeant from the K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan. Robert met Constance Pavao, the woman whom he would spend 50 years of his life united in marriage. They were married April 6, 1956 in Clarinda, Iowa. Robert and Constance have resided in the Bark River and Gladstone area over the last 30 years. Robert enjoyed traveling, the outdoors, hunting and fishing.

Including his wife Constance, he is survived by:

His son: Bryan E. (Jane) Piester of Columbia, Missouri

His daughter: Linda (William) Braun of Belfair, Washington

5 Grandchildren

Two sisters: Judith A. (Sal) Mercurio of Moreno Valley, California; Sandra K. Sloan of Omaha, Nebraska

His Step-Mother: Dorothy Piester of Shenandoah, Iowa

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Walter and his sister, Jacquelyn Dearmont.

The Piester family will receive friends on Tuesday, Febraury 6, from 4:00 to 5:00 at the Skradski-Boyce Funeral Home in Escanaba. Memorial Services will be at 5:00 PM at the funeral home with Rev. Jackie Roe, Memorial United Methodist Church in Gladstone, officiating. The service will begin with Military Rites by the Delta County Veterans Council to honor Robert’s service and duty to his country. Robert will be laid to rest at the Gardens of Rest Cemetery. The family asks that memorials made in Robert’s name be directed to the Alzheimer;s Association, 710 Chippewa Square, Suite 201, Marquette, MI 49855.