Robert “Bob” John Feist , COL (ret), US Army
March 6, 1930 – July 11, 2015
On the morning of July 11, 2015, Bob passed away from complications from Alzheimer’s. He was comforted by family members and the staff of the Redstone Village skilled nursing unit. He was 85-years-old.
He was born in Zeeland, North Dakota. His parents owned a general store and his father was killed in a swimming accident when Bob was three-years-old but his mother kept the store running through the Depression. Bob was sent to live with his grandmother in Royalton, Minnesota, when he was ready for high school because Zeeland had none. He earned his keep on her dairy farm milking cows and repairing fences. He excelled at Royalton High School, playing trumpet in the band, editing the newspaper, holding various offices through the four years and was valedictorian of his class when he graduated.
Bob went to the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit college where he majored in industrial management. Marge was attending the College of the Holy Names and they met at a dance between the two colleges. Bob took ROTC at USF and upon graduation he was commissioned into the Army and received orders for Germany. Bob and Marge decided to get married, giving her mother one month to prepare. Bob’s tour was three years in Mannheim. Their son, Bob, Jr., was born in 1955 in Heidelberg. They had a second tour of Germany in Pirmasens and adopted their second child, Patty, in 1965. During these tours of Germany Bob was able to enjoy his avocation as a racecar enthusiast. He raced two different Porsches, a vintage Mini Cooper and a factory BMW Tisa culminating in winning the Crown of Trifels.
Bob had a 30-year career in the Army. He was a batallion commander twice and had tours in Germany, California, Texas, Alabama, Virginia and Vietnam. He is a graduate of the Army War College and was the Hellfire project manager and ended his career as commander of Ballistic Missile Defense in 1983.
He was awarded several medals including the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
After retiring from the Army he worked for SAIC for ten years and when he fully retired General George Turnmeyer asked Bob to be on his board that was planning on building a continuing care retirement community, Redstone Village. Bob asked George how long it would take and he speculated six or seven years but it took thirteen years before they cut the ribbon. Bob and Marge decided to move there ten years ago. Eventually Bob moved into Grandview Gardens, a full-care Alzheimer’s unit where he flourished under the stellar care of the exceptional staff.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Mary Lou and Bernadette. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marge; his son Robert (Katy); and his daughter, Patty Angles (Keith); six grandchildren, David Angles (Andrea), Madeleine Angles, Paul Feist, Andrew Feist, Matthew Feist and Erin Feist; and one great grandchild, Lucas Angles; and various nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Airport Road, followed by the memorial service at 10:30. Military honors will be at Good Shepherd Catholic Church’s columbarium (Hobbs Road). A luncheon will follow at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Holy Spirit Catholic Church or your favorite charity.
