Bob Saari, beloved father and tireless owner of S&R Wood Products in Mass City, passed away unexpectedly from natural causes, at home, on March 3, 2012. He was 63 years old.

Born Robert John Saari on December 24, 1948 to Ronald and Edna Saari of Winona, MI, Bob spent the majority of his life in the area. He attended Elm River Township School and Jeffers High School, graduating in 1967.

After graduation, Bob did what so many other young men have done before him and set out to seek his fortune. He worked briefly for Ford Motor Company in Detroit, but it was in the service of his country where his great qualities truly began asserting themselves. Stationed at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, he spent 1969-1971 serving honorably in the United States Army as a military police officer, during which time he received the National Defense Service Medal, multiple Sharpshooter badges, and the Good Conduct Medal. He left the service with an honorable discharge.

As with so many other young men, the call of home proved stronger than the call of adventure, and Bob returned to Winona in 1971. Not long after he met Patricia Lorraine Gregory, and the rest was history. They married on October 27, 1973 and on May 15, 1974, they welcomed their first and only child Karen Michelle Saari into the world. Bob and Patty remained happily and lovingly married until his unexpected passing last Saturday.

The young family spent their first years living in Ontonagon, but in 1977 purchased the house in Mass City that they woulda