Robert ‘Bob’ Francisco

Bob was born on July 23, 1943, in Port Huron, Mich., son of the late William and Betty (Bowser) Francisco.

Bob graduated from Port Huron High School in 1958. He then went on to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps from June 29, 1961, until June 1, 1965. He became a combat engineer and was awarded a Good Conduct Medal as a Marine. During his service, he was stationed at Guantanamo amidst the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Upon his return from service, Bob married Elizabeth “Betty” Warner on June 1, 1968, in Port Huron. They remained in the Port Huron area while Bob worked in construction and as a factory worker at Mueller Brass up until 1975. After several trips up to the Amasa area to visit his father’s camp property, Bob and Betty jumped at the opportunity to purchase the Amasa Hotel & Bar in 1975. In 1984, Bob and Betty adopted two boys, Lee and Kerry, from South Korea. Bob continued to manage and bartend at the Hotel & Bar while also taking on an additional job as a lumber grader at Pine River Lumber Company in Amasa, where he worked from 1990-2000. In 1995, Bob and Betty sold the bar and finalized their move to Crystal Falls. Bob cared for Betty until she lost her battle with cancer on April 7, 1999.

In 2001, Bob moved to Colorado with Nancy McNeil and her three children, Frankie, Mindy, and Jacob. While in Colorado, Bob began working at Saddle Rock golf course in maintenance, which fueled his passion for the game. Bob and Nancy celebrated their marriage in 2005. Bob, Nancy, and the kids remained in Colorado until 2009 after learning of Nancy’s cancer diagnosis. The family relocated back to Crystal Falls in 2009, where Bob cared for Nancy until her fight with cancer ended on April 5, 2010.

Bob stayed in Crystal Falls and volunteered his way into a position at the Crystal View Golf Course starting in 2010. He would continue his employment at the golf course until 2015. Bob created a solid foundation of friendships through his decades of living in Crystal Falls. You could often find him in his garage, working on his Camaro, hanging out with friends, tending his exotic plants, and rocking in his chair in front of the TV, pellet stove, and salvaged hotel bar window.

He will forever be remembered for: his unwavering care as a husband, his pride in being a father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. There are countless people who call him a genuine friend, a true gem, a legend, one of a kind. Bob will continue to be missed by all.

He is survived by his son, Lee (Adrian) Francisco and their children, Bryce, Bailey and Audrey; his son, Kerry (Mimi) Francisco and their two children, Braeden and Izzabelle; stepdaughter Frankie DeNell of Crystal Falls; stepdaughter Mindy (Jonny) DeNell, and their children, Jack and Nancy; stepson Jacob (Amber) DeNell and their daughter, Clarke; his brothers, Bill (Marilyn) Francisco of Elizabethton, Tenn., Gene (Susie) Francisco of Ocala, Fla., Dave (Kim) Francisco of Palm Coast, Fla.; and his sister, Barbara (Brock) Reeves of Fayette, Ala.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations will be accepted for a memorial bench that will be placed at the Crystal View Golf Course. Excess funds will be used for burial services. Please send donations to Kerry Francisco, 501 Prince St., Negaunee, MI 49866.

A celebration of life will be hosted at Chung’s Bar & Grill on Saturday, Jan. 10, from 1 to 6 p.m.

Burial will be in the Evergreen cemetery in Crystal Falls.

Condolences to the family of Bob Francisco may be expressed online at nashfuneralhome.net

The family has entrusted the Nash Funeral Home of Crystal Falls with the arrangements.