Robert Marshall Sweet

Bob was born on October 21, 1927 in Cumberland WI to Anna Irene Mitts and Charles Austin Sweet. He grew up on a small dairy farm outside of Barronett, WI and graduated from Cumberland High School in 1945. He was also a member of the Barronett Lutheran Church. Despite growing up during the Great Depression, Bob enjoyed a youth spent hunting and fishing in the woods and lakes of northwestern Wisconsin. He was drafted in 1946 and served a year in the U.S. Army. Upon returning home, he acted as both general contractor and major source of labor for the construction of the family farm’s new barn. More than 65 years later the barn still stands.

Bob joined the U.S. Air Force in 1949 and completed pilot training at Reese AFB, TX. Among other assignments, he was stationed in France and Germany for several years, and also at Clark AFB in the Philippines where he met his future wife Joyce Gaddis who was serving in the Air Force as an R.N. He served a combat tour during the Korean War and two combat tours in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. A highly decorated fighter pilot, Bob was the recipient of the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters and the Bronze Star. One of the highlights of his Air Force career came in 1957 when, as part of Operation SunRun, Bob flew an RF-101C Voodoo from Los Angeles to New York and back, setting both the New York to Los Angeles air speed record as well as the LA to NY to LA round-trip record. Bob served his country for over 28 years and to him the Air Force was much more than a career; it was his calling in life.

After he retired, Bob and his family moved to Colorado where he enjoyed hiking and camping in the mountains. Bob was an avid hunter and fisherman both in Colorado and in his native Wisconsin. He also completed a large portion of the auto mechanic’s curriculum at Arapahoe Community College and worked part time for several years at an auto repair shop.

In his spare time Bob enjoyed reading military histories, thrillers and westerns as well as listening to old-time country-western, bluegrass and folk music. He also spent time observing birds at his back yard feeders. He enjoyed watching his grandson play hockey. And he always looked forward to seeing his friends at the annual TAC Recce and Voodoo pilots reunions.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Joyce, his son Christopher, and his parents. He is survived by his son Rob, grandson Brandon and daughter-in-law Pamela. He is also survived by his sisters Harriet (Elroy) Spangenberg, Marion (Roger) Hanson and Margaret (Dan) Brown, and his brothers Douglas (Pat) and Gordon (Monika), as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many other relatives and friends who will miss him greatly.

Funeral services will be at Olinger Chapel Hill on November 26th at 10AM with interment to follow at Fort Logan National Cemetery at 12PM. There will be a reception at Bob’s house following the service at Fort Logan. Visitation will be on Sunday November 25th at Olinger Chapel Hill from 2-5PM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Johnson Center – Christian Living Communities or the Porter Hospice.