Robert Addison Bushnell Sr.

Robert Addison Bushnell Robert Addison Bushnell, Sr. of Wilder, died Nov. 10, 2008 in Nampa. Viewing will be held November 13 from 5-7 p.m. at Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell. Funeral services will be held Friday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. at Caldwell United Methodist Church with burial to follow at Wilder Cemetery. A reception will be held at the Caldwell Elks Lodge following interment. Condolences may be shared with the family on their online guest book at www.dakanfuneralchapel.com. Bob was born Aug. 25, 1921 in Merriman, Neb. to Fred A. and Rose Bushnell. As a young man, he moved with his family to Nampa, where he worked in the local pea fields, and was eventually promoted to a pea checker. He graduated from Nampa High School in 1939. Before World War II, he worked for the U.S. Naval Contractors building the Pearl Harbor Naval Base. He returned to Wilder to marry Marjorie Karn on Oct. 26, 1942. They made their home in the Wilder area and were married for 60 years before her death in 2002. In 1943 Robert joined the army where he fought with the 275th infantry in Europe in the Battle of the Bulge, for which he earned a Purple Heart. After the War, he returned and had a son, Robert Jr. and a daughter, Bettie. He then worked as a salesman for McNeel Lumber Company, eventually purchased the business and established his own construction company. He was involved in the community and served as manager of the Golden Gate Highway District. He also served on the Wilder Cemetery Board, City Council and Canyon County Planning and Zoning. In his lifetime, Bob was a member of the Masonic Lodge AF & AM #83 and the El Korah Shrine. He was very active in the Canyon County Republicans in the 1960's and was chairman of the Idaho Housing Committee at the 1964 GOP Goldwater Convention in San Francisco. Bob embodied the entrepreneurial spirit and had many ventures throughout his lifetime including Circle J Horse Trailers, and Sundowner Inc. He had a passion for construction- he developed subdivisions in Wilder, Homedale, Ontario, Nampa and Caldwell. He loved to make an old building into a useable space. He converted the McNeel Lumber Company into the Sundowner Motel and transformed an old Safeway building in Nampa into the Desert Inn. He restored Caldwell's Steunenberg building and created office space in the Old Mill Block. His most challenging and rewarding project was restoring the old Saratoga Hotel and opening The Saratoga Restaurant, which drew local and national attention. Mr. and Mrs. B travelled all over the United States, Europe- especially England and Turkey to find antiques for the Saratoga during the 1970's. One of his proudest moments was when the Saratoga was featured in the United Airlines Mainline Magazine. Whether celebrating a special occasion or a just night out, The Saratoga's unique décor and wonderful cuisine created lasting memories for many people. They sold the Saratoga in the 1985. Bob touched the lives of many people. He always had a wave and a "howdy." He asked about your spouse, your kids, your crop and was quick to invite you to a Sunday picnic. He was an unassuming man, in his beat up blue pickup truck and often a goofy hat. He cared deeply about his family and his country. He advocated a strong downtown and tried to develop properties to help downtown prosper. He loved to help people anonymously and gave many young people a chance to go college and a chance to start a career in business. Bob was affectionately known to many as "Other Abba." He took great pride in his grandchildren and took them on trips for adventure, education, and life experiences. He was a role model for his family, with a strong work ethic, a philosophy that no job was beneath him, and he never lost site of the fact that he started out picking peas. He loved to teach and was a friend and mentor to many. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by a son, Robert Bushnell Jr. of Boise; daughter, Bettie Pilote of Caldwell; three grandsons, Robert Pilote and his wife, Terry of Caldwell, Joshua Pilote of Hoboken, N.J. and Robert "Bo" Addison Bushnell III, of Los Angeles; two granddaughters, Tiffany Rose Bushnell of Los Angeles and Natalie Borresen of La Jolla, Calif. He is also survived by two great-grandsons, Bryce and Lucas; a sister, Gloria Saunders of Benson Ariz.; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Virginia (Karn) and Jake Maxwell of Wilder; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie, his parents and two brothers and sisters. Memorials may be made to the City of Wilder, 219 3rd St, Wilder, ID 83676 which will be used to support the city's Park Development and Fourth of July Fireworks Fund.