Robert Theodore Hart

Captain Robert Theodore Hart, known to family and friends as "Ted," passed away peacefully on March 11, 2026, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was 81 years old.

Ted was born on December 9, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, to Robert M. Hart of Detroit and Emily (Sholtey-Ash-Hart) Killian of Three Rivers, Michigan. He grew up in Livonia, Michigan, where he attended Livonia Bentley High School, graduating in 1962. During his school years he was an enthusiastic athlete, playing football, ice hockey, and golf.

After high school, Ted pursued higher education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, graduating in May 1966 with a Bachelor of Architecture. He later earned his MBA from Michigan State University in December 1974.

Following his graduation from RPI, Ted was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1966 to 1969 as a Marine Combat Engineer. He completed a tour of duty in Vietnam from March 1967 to May 1968 with the 8th Engineer Company, 9th Engineer Battalion, where he helped maintain critical infrastructure and protect the Route 1 supply road between Da Nang and Chu Lai.

After completing his military service and graduate studies, Ted worked in the Detroit area for several years as a commercial real estate loan officer at the National Bank of Detroit (NBD). In 1983, he moved to Racine, Wisconsin, starting his tenure with SC Johnson Developers, a subdivision of Johnson Wax. In 1987, he co-founded Horizon Builders, a complete design-build firm for residential and commercial properties in the Racine area. After selling the business in 1999, Ted began a second career in real estate with Century 21 in Racine, where he sold commercial real estate until retiring and relocating to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, in 2013.

A lifelong sports enthusiast, Ted remained a devoted fan of the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers, and Michigan State Spartans. After moving to Wisconsin, he also embraced the Wisconsin Badgers football team and was a proud supporter of the UW-Marching Band, of which his kids were members. Ted actively supported his kids' musical and sports activities (often as the team coach!).

Golf was Ted's greatest passion. Ted learned to play golf when he was 8 years old on public courses in the city of Detroit. He played around the world and kept scorecards from every round he played, numbering in the thousands. Over the years he recorded three holes-in-one and, in retirement, proudly "shot his age" several times. In Hot Springs Village he remained an active member of multiple golf leagues and could often be found on the course multiple days each week.

Ted was a deeply social person whose children often joked that he had "never met a stranger." Curious, an excellent listener, quick with a story, and known for his charismatic laugh, he formed lasting friendships everywhere he went. Community involvement was very important to him. In Racine, he volunteered with the Kiwanis Club, helping organize the annual "Pancake Day" fundraiser for several years; he also attended many campouts and other activities with his son Rob as the troop committee chairman for the Boy Scouts. After moving to Arkansas, he served as a member of the Hot Springs Village Memorial maintenance group and helped organize the village's annual "Wisconsin Picnic."

Ted is survived by his wife, Iris Tate of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; three children,Robert Jr. (Denise McClenathan) of Cincinnati, Ohio; Shannon (CK Siu) of Ladue, Missouri; and Kevin (Alyssa) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and six grandchildren, Felix Hart and Corrine McClenathan of Cincinnati, Ohio; Calvin Siu and Emmeline Siu of Ladue, Missouri; and Zoey Hart and Ethan Hart of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ted was preceded in death by his parents and his former wife Alice (d. 2014).

Family and friends are invited to meet at Caruth Village Funeral Home at 4623 AR Hwy 7, Hot Springs Village, on Wednesday, March 18th for a visitation (10a - 11a) and service (11a - noon) celebrating Ted's Life. An additional service will be held in Racine,WI - a time and location to be announced later. His remains will be interred at Riverside Cemetery in Three Rivers, MI, during a private service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made, in accordance with Ted's wishes, to the following entities: Albion College (Albion, MI), Michigan State University, The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, The Kiwanis of Hot Springs Village Foundation, and/or The Hot Springs Village Veterans Memorial Foundation.