Robert “Deacon Bob” Fazen, 87, of West Allis Wisconsin passed away November 18, 2010 at the Hospice Home of Hope, Fond du Lac, WI. Bob was born May 19, 1923 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Rufus Fazen and Anna Fazen. Bob spent most of his life in West Allis, Wisconsin, attending McKinley Elementary School, John Dewey Junior High School and West Allis Central High School. He met Betty Blodgett in 1942 and they married on October 9, 1943. Bob served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII from 1944 to 1945 and attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In the Navy, he took basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and served as a Radar Operator aboard the USS Pasig, whose mission was the distillation and supply of fresh water to ships of the Allied navies in the western Pacific. The ship also supplied water to the U.S. Marine forces aboard landing craft, preparing for the Okinawa campaign. Bob and Betty raised 4 boys and lived in a house in West Allis, built by his father and brother-in-law. He worked at Allis Chalmers, prior to and after his Navy service and he retired from Allis Chalmers in 1983, after working 40 years as a Chief Industrial Manufacturing Engineer. He studied at St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, WI and was ordained as a Catholic Deacon in 1983. He served as a Deacon at Holy Assumption Church, West Allis, Wisconsin from 1983-1986, then he and Betty moved to Campbellsport, Wisconsin where he served as Deacon at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church from 1986 to present with Fathers Mike Moran, Ed Kornath, Frank Malloy and presently Neil Zinthefer. Throughout Bob’s life, he was a sports enthusiast. An intense competitor and aggressive coach in baseball, softball and basketball, playing slow-pitch softball until age 62. Also an avid sports fan, he enthusiastically supported the Milwaukee Hawks & Bucks, the Milwaukee Braves & Brewers, the Green Bay Packers, the Marquette Golden Eagles and his beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Bob was preceded in death by his parents. Bob is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Betty Fazen; sons Robert (wife: Lynn), James (wife: Chris), John (wife: Janet) and Matthew; 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends and parishioners of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Campbellsport, WI. Viewing will be from 4 – 7 PM, Tuesday, November 23rd At St. Matthew's Catholic Church 406 E. Main Street, Campbellsport, WI, 53010. Additional viewing will be available at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church from 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, Wednesday, November 24th. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 PM Wednesday Nov. 24th at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church. The family invites those attending the funeral to join them for food and refreshments in the basement of St. Matthews Catholic Church after the Funeral Mass. Interment will take place at the St. Matthew’s Cemetery, Campbellsport, WI at 2:30 PM, Wednesday, November 24, 2010. Those who wish to send condolences to the family may do so at www.twohigfunerals.com, by mail to the Twohig Funeral Home P.O. Box 710 Campbellsport, WI 53010, or email
[email protected]
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