Robert Stark

Stark, Robert E. MIDDLETON - Robert E. Stark, age 88, died on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center after a brief battle with leukemia. He was born in Minneapolis on December 8, 1918, to Marcus and Inez Stark. He graduated from Washburn High School. He was an Eagle Scout. Bob graduated from the University of Minnesota, class of 1940 and was a member of Chi Psi fraternity. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran having served four years in the U.S. Navy Intelligence, most of those in Hawaii, arriving there only one month after December 7th. On June 20, 1947, Bob was united in marriage to Elizabeth (Liz) Sperling in Minneapolis. Bob was a pioneer in the field of market research, beginning his own firm while he attended the University of Minnesota. Opportunities with some leading ad agencies and corporations took him and his family to Chicago, New York and San Francisco. After retirement in 1983, Liz and Bob moved to Gig Harbor, Washington, where he volunteered for S.C.O.R.E. (Service Corp of Retired Executives) for seven years. They came to Madison in May 1992. Bob is survived by his wife, Liz, of 59 years; and children, Christine, of Madison and Robert (Norma) of Chugiak, Alaska; granddaughter, Jessica; great-grandson, Ethan; and grandson, AJ; sisters, Winnifred (Edward) Schmidt, Mary Andrews, and Nancy (Phillip) St. Clair; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, David. Memorial services will be held at ST. DUNSTANS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 6205 University Avenue, Middleton at a future date to be announced. Our family wishes to extend a special thank you to everyone on the medical staff at the UW Hospital and to the HospiceCare Center for their wonderful and caring support of Bob and us during his illness and last days of his life. Memorials may be made to the HospiceCare, Inc. or to St. Dunstans Episcopal Church. Gunderson West Funeral and Cremation Centers 7435 University Ave (608) 831-6761 www.gundersonfh.com