Robert Lee Blackburn's Obituary
Robert Lee Blackburn was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, the only child of Charles Lee and Vivian Eleanor Blackburn. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1956 and obtained a BSME and MBA from the University of Michigan in 1962. He married Alice Edith Peters in 1962.
Robert had a varied career, starting as an engineer for a contractor in the US space program in Los Angeles and finishing as a Vice Counsel for Trade at the British Consulate in Chicago. Over the years, Robert had many hobbies. He loved sailing - which he once taught at the St. Joseph Yacht Club - and even had his own sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay. Robert enjoyed golf, books and walking in the woods. He retired from Chicago to Spring Lake, Michigan. He was particularly interested in researching his genealogy. He was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Grand Haven, Michigan. Robert volunteered for many years at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum helping to catalog its collection. He enjoyed his weekly breakfasts with friends.
Robert and Alice have four children: Robert, Christopher, Peter and Sarah. He and Alice also have eight grandchildren: Joshua, James, Jennifer, Brayden, Katherine, Guy, Zoe and Alexander. Robert asserted that, over his life, he never ‘figured it out.’ But he made many lifelong friends, charmed many more, and loved his family unconditionally.
Robert died peacefully on October 6, 2021 in Muskegon, Michigan, surrounded by Alice, his children and his grandchildren. Robert will be buried in a private ceremony at Hicks Cemetery in Battle Creek, Michigan on November 20. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trout Unlimited, Inc, Alliance for the Great Lakes, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Grand Haven, or your favorite charity.
Please share memories with the family online at www.sytsemafh.com. Arrangements by The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 S. Harvey St. Norton Shores, MI 49444 (231) 798-1100.
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