Bob Fields

Bob J. Fields was known as a good guy, respected at work and well-liked by his many friends. A loyal and hard-working employee, he was committed to excellence and contributed much time and energy to his stores. His family came before his job, though, and he considered his children to be his most important responsibility.

Robert Joseph Fields was a Baby Boomer, born on August 17, 1948, into a nation that was relieved to find itself in relative peace. World War II had ended a few years earlier and America had settled into the business of trying to get back to “normal.” The third of Carl and Helen (Wass) Fields’ four children, Bob was born and raised on South Burdick Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He and his siblings, Carl Jr., Margaret, and John, kept things hopping around the house with typical sibling exchanges, including plenty of arguments, pranks, and laughter. Bob’s dad worked as a tool and die maker and his mom managed the home.

Bob learned about hard work from his parents, both by their example and by pitching in around the house. He was given time just to be a kid, though, and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He kept his love of the outdoors for the rest of his life. He was always up for a little healthy competition, and enjoyed bowling, pool, and all kinds of card games. Bob attended St. Joseph Catholic School and then Comstock High School, graduating with the class of 1966. He then chose to attend Western Michigan University to study business. He took a part-time job at Meijer to help pay his way through school.

When he was a freshman at Western, Bob was in a terrible car accident. His girlfriend who was with him at the time was killed and he was in the hospital for six grueling months. During that difficult time, he met Kathy Dye. They fell in love and were married in the early 1970s.

After graduating from Western, Bob continued working at Meijer. He was willing to do any job put in front of him, and his work ethic and loyalty earned him the respect of his bosses and coworkers. Eventually, he became the Store Director at the Westnedge store where he worked for thirty years. He was then selected to be the Store Director of the new location in Three Rivers until he retired on August 24, 2007.

Bob and Kathy had four children. The family shared good times at their cabin on Sauble Lake just south of Irons, Michigan, about halfway between Manistee and Cadillac. Even though they were on vacation, Bob still had jobs for everyone to do there. He was a manager at home as well as at Meijer and he liked to see things running smoothly. He stayed busy, too, working in the yard and making sure things were taken care of. Maybe the well worn Meijer travel coffee cup had something to do with his drive. It didn’t matter where he was, the cup was with him and boy could he put down the coffee! The kids knew how much he loved them, and he was always very proud of their accomplishments. Bob and Kathy divorced after twenty-six years.

Through some mutual friends, Bob met a wonderful woman named Teri Wellington (Sportel). They started dating in February of 2002 and exchanged marriage vows on February 10, 2006. Bob felt privileged to have found someone to share life’s joys and trials with, and Teri was the one who would be with him through some of his greatest peaks and valleys. He also welcomed Teri’s daughter Tori into the family.

Bob had always loved muscle cars, particularly ‘cudas’. Four days after he retired from Meijer, he realized one of his greatest dreams. He was thrilled to acquire a 2007 Shelby GT500, the most powerful factory-built Ford Mustang to date, with only 200 miles on it. Vista Blue with white stripes, that car was Bob’s pride and joy. He loved taking her for a spin and no one had to twist his arm to get him to show it off. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to spend as much time with her as he would have liked.

In the fall of 2007, the family was dismayed to learn that Bob was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. They were told that at the most he had a number of weeks to live. He and his family were encouraged to receive a visit from Fred Meijer while Bob was at Rose Arbor Hospice. Bob died on Friday, January 25, 2008, at Borgess Medical Center. His family and friends will miss him more than words can say, but he did not leave them empty handed. He has given them fond memories of many kindness, shared laughter, and immeasurable love.

God Saw You

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be,

So He put his arms around you and whispered, “Come to Me.”

With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away,

And though we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating, hard-working hands at rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

- Author Unknown

His parents, one brother-in-law, Dick Derhammer, and his father-in-law, Adrian “Ipe” Sportel, preceded Bob in death. Bob is survived by his wife, Teri; five children: Bob (Dawn) Fields of Traverse City, Chris Fields of Kalamazoo, Justin Fields of Portage, Sarah Fields of Kalamazoo, and Tori Wellington of Kalamazoo; one sister, Margaret Derhammer of Kalamazoo; two brothers, Carl Fields Jr. and John (Nancy) Fields; his mother-in-law, Wilma Sportel of Scotts; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.

Learn more about Bob and visit with his family and friends on Monday, January 28, from 3:00- 7:30 p.m. at the Betzler Life Story Funeral Home – Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home afterward at 7:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 29, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church with visitation at the church starting at 10:00 a.m. Following mass, food and fellowship will be shared in the church hall. Please visit Bob’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a favorite memory or photo of him or sign his online guest register. Memorial contributions to St. Catherine of Siena Church or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan are appreciated.