Robert “Bob” Monson, 98, who spent nearly all of his retired years in Fernandina Beach, passed away early on March 1, 2019 at the home of his daughter, Fredericka Kessler, in Versailles, Ky.
Robert was born February 5, 1921 in Burlington, Iowa. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Iowa. He received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering along with honorary degrees in chemistry and engineering. During his senior year, Robert took a hiatus to work on the ALCAN highway, built to connect the contiguous United States to Alaska, across Canada. He returned to Iowa to complete his studies and graduated in the summer of 1942. He joined the U.S. Navy and served admirably for three years. Bob shipped out to Annapolis, Md., and under the “90-Day-Wonder” program, as it was known, he received the stepped-up, intensive three-month officers training course. Soon thereafter, he found himself on a destroyer, the Osmand Ingram, “APD-35.” It was aboard this vessel that Officer Monson served in the Mediterranean during the invasion of southern France, performed submarine duty in the Atlantic, then moved on to the Pacific Theater, where his warship was apportioned as an attack transport and convoy escort and was involved in the Battle of Okinawa against the Imperial Japanese forces, the last major battle of World War II and one of the deadliest.
After he was discharged from the military in 1946, Robert accepted a position with DuPont in Buffalo, N.Y. It was there where he took a shine to a co-worker in the department by the name of Sarah. Robert married Sarah Catherine Breslin on February 11, 1950, creating a loving bond that lasted 69 years until his death.
Robert worked as a chemical engineer for Dupont for 37 years. His career enabled the Monson family to enjoy residing in such locales as New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Delaware, and Kentucky, as well as in Europe – specifically the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg – before he retired in 1983. He was fortunate to have spent nearly as many years in retirement – 36 total – where he pursued his love of sailing, with Sarah, aboard Sandpiper, a 34-foot Aloha sailboat. Their adventures included sailing from the craft’s point of purchase in Ontario, Canada, and down the Intracoastal Waterway to their future home on Amelia Island. Over the ensuing years, Bob collected nearly a dozen sailing trophies, including one for “Rookie of the Year.” He and Sarah sailed all around the Caribbean, including a couple of memorable jaunts to the Bahamas. Whether by sea, land or air, travel was a pronounced part of Robert’s life as he, Sarah, and the family collectively visited exotic locations in several dozen countries on five different continents around the world. Bob was a lifelong and avid golfer, proud of his membership in the famed “Lemonade Boys” at FBCC. He loved his music, and he liked to dance to swing and Sinatra. He could swing a mean hammer as well. Devoted to family, he especially loved reunions and the many family gatherings at their home at Christmas time – the more the merrier. Along with his wife, Sarah, Bob was active with his church, St. Michael Catholic Church in Fernandina Beach, singing hymns with the church choir.
Robert was preceded in death by his brother, Harold.
Robert is survived by wife, Sarah; sons, Christopher (Ann) of Wilmington, Del., Stephen (Laura) and Joseph (Lisbet) of Minneapolis, Minn., Martin (Stacia) of Seattle, Wash.; daughter, Fredericka (Rick) Kessler of Versailles, Ky.; granddaughter, Shawna Monson; and grandsons, Nickolas and Dylan Monson and Ryan and Andrew Kessler.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Clark Funeral Home with Fr. Miguel Alvizures officiating. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until the start of the service at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.clarklegacycenter.com.
Clark Funeral Home