Robert Charles Trout

Bob was born in Flint, Michigan on August 19, 1929, to Charles and Helen (Ketcham) Trout. His family moved shortly after to Saginaw, Michigan, where he grew up. He and his sister learned to drive tractors at a young age, and because of this, he was given a driver’s license at age 14 without ever taking the test.

He graduated from Arthur Hill High School in 1947, where a majority of his close friends were also named Bob. Bob lived up to his last name (Trout), by swimming on two Class A championship teams in high school. He won the state 50 yard freestyle and was the only student to achieve his varsity letter in the tenth grade. Bob was also a national champion in the 200 yard freestyle relay and was inducted into the Saginaw Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

His talents in the pool earned him a scholarship to Purdue. He later transferred to Michigan State University where he competed in both swimming and football, before enlisting for 4 years in the Navy during the Korean War. He was stationed in Pensacola on the USS Monterey. After the war, he completed his degree at MSU in lumber merchandising.

In 1948 he met the love of his life, Jeanne Hente, and they married on August 9, 1952. Bob and Jeanne were the epitome of true love. They were known to each other as “My Bobbie” and “My Jeannie”, and were inseparable. Escanaba was home for Bob and Jeanne; they raised their two children and lived in the same home for 54 years. Bob took a job with Craftman Hardwood Lumber and then later received his Masters (plus 30 credits) in Special Education from Northern Michigan University. He loved, and was loved by his students at the Learning Center in Escanaba. The family enjoyed snowmobiling in the winter and swimming in Lake Michigan in the summer.

For the last five years of his life, Bob lived at Harvest Hill with his wife- only 20 minutes away from their daughter. Bob is loved and missed by his wife of 73 years, Jeanne Hente Trout, his daughter Stephanie Trout Berman (husband Norm) of New Hampshire, his grandson, Micah Berman (partner Lila Rickenbaugh) of Montana, his granddaughter Sarah Trout Berman (partner Sarah Goldsmith) of New Hampshire, five nieces and nephews, and brother-in-law Don Hente (wife Anne). Bob was predeceased by his beloved son Dyrk in 2020, and very recently by his 97-year-old sister, Jo Trout Byers Kampschoer.

Bob was a sweetheart; always happy and ready to party. He loved golfing, swimming, fishing, walking his dog Ozzie, and most of all being with his family. He was known for reciting the poem “The Cremation of Sam McGee” at the drop of a hat, and he loved listening to music, doing crosswords, and reading mystery novels.

Bob’s family would like to thank the staff at Harvest Hill for their loving care, as well as Drs. Gina Fernandez and Lisa Furmanski and their teams, and Erin and Gene from the VNA.

At Bob’s request there will be a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, where Bob and Jeanne’s son received care as a child.

Condolences can be left at www.rickerfuneralhome.com.