Balliet, Robert "Bob"

Other Events:

• Military Service: WWII - POW - US Army Air Corps, 15th Air Force, 776 Squadron
• Education - High School: 1942, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• Military Service: Between 29 May 1944 and 6 May 1945, Gdansk, , Pomorskie, Poland; WWII POW - Stalag Luft IV
• Obituary: 15 Nov 2012; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Military Service:
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and served in the European Theater during WWII. Bob flew out of Italy on nineteen combat missions with the 776 Squadron of the 464 BG of the 15th Air Force. His B-24 bomber was shot down over Zagreb, Yugoslavia, on May 29, 1944. Bob was captured by the Nazi Germans and imprisoned at Stalag Luft IV, a POW camp near Danzig (currently Gdansk), Poland. After surviving a 500-mile "Black March" westward from Pomerania across northern Germany in extreme winter conditions, he was liberated on May 6, 1945. Bob's personal account of the march is part of Wisconsin Public Television's Wisconsin WWII Stories series.

Education - High School:
Appleton High School Class of 1942

Obituary:
Robert Michael Balliet, age 88, passed away with his family by his side at St. Elizabeth Hospital on November 13, 2012. Bob was born in Appleton on March 28, 1924, to the late Stephen D. and Irene M. (nee Alberty) Balliet. He was the youngest of three children.
Bob attended St. Mary's Catholic Grade School, Wilson Junior High School (1939 Class President), and Appleton High School (AHS). Immediately after graduating from high school in 1942, he started working for Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and served in the European Theater during WWII. Bob flew out of Italy on nineteen combat missions with the 776 Squadron of the 464 BG of the 15th Air Force. His B-24 bomber was shot down over Zagreb, Yugoslavia, on May 29, 1944. Bob was captured by the Nazi Germans and imprisoned at Stalag Luft IV, a POW camp near Danzig (currently Gdansk), Poland. After surviving a 500-mile "Black March" westward from Pomerania across northern Germany in extreme winter conditions, he was liberated on May 6, 1945. Bob's personal account of the march is part of Wisconsin Public Television's Wisconsin WWII Stories series.
Upon his return, he went back to work for the Telephone Company until his retirement in 1985, ending a career of 43 years at "Ma Bell." After retirement, Bob took on a part-time job as a bonded courier for Bay Title & Abstract, Inc. for about ten years and a full-time job as Grandpa Extraordinaire.
Bob married Helen "Sis" Moder on February 15, 1947, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. They enjoyed 62 years together until she passed away on January 20, 2009. They raised four children together.
Bob and Sis enjoyed many good times with family and friends at their 3B Tree Farm in Waushara County near Wild Rose, WI. Since 1958, over 200,000 trees have been planted to transform an abandoned corn farm into a family legacy tree farm.
For years, Bob met with his coffee group at the round table at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel for great times with loyal friends. He traveled with Sis and the kids all around the United States and Canada. In 1979, Bob and Sis ventured to Europe to visit the site of his POW camp in Poland behind the Iron Curtain.
He was an active lifelong member of St. Mary Catholic Parish, a co-chair of the first Xavier High School Food Fair, a long time member of the class of 1942 AHS reunion committee, and co-chair of the AHS-West WWII Monument Committee. Bob always kept in touch with his childhood buddies throughout his life: Huck Walsh, Ralph Buesing, John Milhaupt, Fred Heinritz, Scoop Connelly, John Long, Herm Zwicker, Guy Barlow, John Bartman, Bill Frawley, Bro Miller, Fred Voecks, Sonny Pelton, and Jack Bradley. He flew the flag proudly in his front yard and attended every Memorial Day and Flag Day parade with family and friends.
He is survived by his children Daniel (Janet Carlson) Balliet, Laura (John) Tucker, and Bobbie (Jeff) Mullen, and a daughter-in-law, Gerri Balliet. Bob is further survived by grandchildren Amy Balliet, Nick Balliet, Mike (Stephanie) Mullen, Christina Mullen, Maura Mullen, Kelli (Gary) Bhojwani, Ryan (Maria) Tucker, Chad (Angie) Tucker, Brad Tucker, Jeff (Norah) Tucker, and Alix Tucker, and great-grandchildren Collin, Savannah, and Tucker Bhojwani, John Patrick Tucker, and Camila Tucker. He is also survived by several first cousins, including Fran Rechner who lived next to him at Brewster Village, and by many nieces, nephews, and their children.
He was preceded in death by his wife Sis, his son David "Bear" Balliet, his brother Stephen "Teet" Balliet, Jr., and his sister Irene "Tudy" Strutz.
The funeral liturgy will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, November 17, at St. Mary Catholic Church (312 S. State St., Appleton) with Father Jim Leary, O.F.M. Cap. officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 16, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Wichmann Funeral Home (537 N. Superior St., Appleton) and again on Saturday at the church from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has established a memorial fund.
The family wishes to thank those who cared for Dad with us after Mom died. This includes Dr. Deborah Schultz and the staff at Brewster Village Heritage Square II, where he resided since April 2011, and his caregivers when he was still living in his home on Packard Street: Mary Wilz, Mary Hurley, Rhonda Cummings, Pearl Hodkiewicz, Camarra Schmude, and Peg Ebben. We also wish to thank Dr. Steve Coenen and the V.A. staff at the John H. Bradley Center in Appleton, his good neighbors Sarah and Larry Radloff, and our special family friend Marilyn Shutte.
You were a great dad, a wonderful husband, a cherished friend, a hard worker who provided for your family, a member of the Greatest Generation who loved your country and took citizenship seriously, a good Democrat, a conservationist, and a caretaker of many others. Your outgoing social nature and smile lit up many a heart and room. We will miss you and honor all of the life lessons we learned from you.
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent from November 14 to November 17, 2012

Robert married Moder, Helen Katherine "Sis" 15 Feb 1947, St. Mary Catholic Church, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. Helen (daughter of Moder, Jacob and Limpert, Helen) was born 21 Apr 1925, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA; died 20 Jan 2009, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA; was buried Aft 20 Jan 2009, St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Obituary: 11 Feb 2010; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
Balliet, David Robert "Bear" 1950-2010
David passed into eternal life February 8th, 2010, after a courageous 8-year battle with Carcinoid Syndrome, a rare form of cancer. He was 60 years old. Dave was born January 24th, 1950, in Appleton, Wisconsin, to Robert M. and Helen K. (Moder) Balliet. He was the first born of their four children. Dave was a lifelong resident of the area, attending St. Mary's Grade School, Xavier High School ('68) and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (B.S. and M.S.).
Dave's vocation was education. He taught and coached at St. Mary's Grade School in Appleton from 1973-1979. Several times he refinished the gym floor himself, proving his dedication to the athletic program at St. Mary's. He also prepared students for confirmation in evening classes at St. Mary's. During his summers, he was a construction worker for the Oscar J. Boldt Company. He became a faculty member of Fox Valley Technical College in 1979 and taught and counseled in Appleton and the many off campus sites around central Wisconsin until his retirement in 2007. He continued to teach part-time at FVTC as an adjunct faculty member. He was a member of W.E.A.C. and an association leader at the local level.
Dave loved athletics and the outdoors. He played recreational sports until he no longer could. He was the pitcher on his softball team and a member of the FVTC Golf League. Dave also umpired softball for the Appleton Recreation Department. In addition, Dave coached his son's basketball, soccer, and baseball teams in grade school and middle school. He also coached his daughter's basketball team.
His other great interest and love was the family tree farm in Waushara County. He spent as much time as he could out in the woods. He took great pride in working the land to make it a beautiful place to visit.
Dave was known by many as "the Bear" or just "Davo." He enjoyed many a good time with his friends. He loved to attend high school and college athletic events. He shared season tickets to the Badger basketball games with his son, Nick.
Another passion for Dave was traveling with his family. They have traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and to Europe.
He is survived by his wife of 37½ years, Gerri (Engel), their daughter Amy, Munich, Germany and their son Nick, Appleton. Dave is further survived by his father, Robert, Appleton; brother Daniel (Jan Carlson) Appleton; and sisters: Laura (John) Tucker, Neenah; and Bobbie (Jeff) Mullen, Appleton. On the Balliet side of his family Dave is further survived by two nieces and a nephew. On the Engel side of his family, Dave is survived by Gerri's mother and many brothers- and sisters-in-law along with many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by many great friends who enjoyed Dave's company.
Dave was preceded in death by his mother, Helen (Sis) Balliet in 2009.
Friends may call at the Brettschneider-Trettin-Lederer Funeral Chapel from 4-7 p.m. on Friday. A prayer service will follow at 7 p.m. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2010, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 313 S. State St. Appleton. Burial will take place at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to the many caregivers who looked after Dave. Special mention of our appreciation goes to Dr. O'Dorisio at the University of Iowa and Dr. Phil Vogt here in Appleton for their medical knowledge, support and encouragement throughout these difficult years.
Dave, you touched many friends with your caring heart and changed many lives for the better with your compassionate spirit and guidance. You are loved more than you ever knew, and you will be missed more than words can say.
Dad: You were one of a kind. No one could ever replace you. I will miss you forever. - Love, Amy
Chief: You're my best friend and the best father I could have ever asked for. I'll make you proud. - Nick
Brettschneider
Trettin-Lederer
606 N. Oneida St.
Appleton 920-733-7383

David married Engel, Gerri (daughter of Engel, Norbert Francis and Hooyman, Eleanor Florence) [Group Sheet]

Daniel married Carlson, Janet [Group Sheet]

Laura married Tucker, John [Group Sheet]

Roberta married Mullen, Jeffrey Marion (son of Mullen, Christopher "CJ" "Jim" and Sigl, Rosemary) [Group Sheet]

Mike married Schnettler, Stephanie (daughter of Schnettler, Bill and Unknown, Patti) [Group Sheet]