Robert E. Nygaard

Nygaard, Robert E.

Robert E. Nygaard, age 88, of 941 Wood Avenue, Wisconsin Rapids, WI died Thursday, August 11, 2016 at Atrium Post Acute Care in Wisconsin Rapids, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care Hospice.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM Monday, August 15, 2016 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wisconsin Rapids. Bishop Nathan Black will officiate, burial will take place at a later date at Pioneer Cemetery in the Town of Saratoga. Visitation will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 PM on Sunday at Ritchay Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids, and again at the Church on Monday from 10:00 - 11:00 AM.

Robert was born May 23, 1928 to Irene Coplin in Eau Claire, WI. He was united in marriage with Catherine A. Halfman on August 4, 1956 in Wabasha, MN. He was a wonderful husband and father and man of many talents. In his younger years he worked as a pipefitter, millworker, cab driver and farmer. He began driving semi-trucks in the early 1960's and drove until his retirement in 1993. During that time he owned his own truck and drove for Schneider National and Sparhawk Trucking among others. After retirement, he worked seasonally for Del Monte and Ocean Spray.

In his free time he loved to take his family on driving vacations to show them the different parts of the country that he visited. In his downtime he enjoyed reading and coin collecting.

Robert is survived by his wife of 60 years, Catherine; daughters Samantha Pehoski, Sharon Nygaard, son and daughter-in-law Ken (Renee) Nygaard, 5 granddaughters, Nicole (Jeff) Bagnowski, Natasha (Mike Slattery) Neukirchen, Natiana (David) Huckbody, Nikita (Cody Kickland) Nygaard, Nikendra (Scott) Cerveny; and 6 ¾ great-grandchildren, Brooke, Brett, Bryce and Braxton Bagnowski, Ryden Slattery, Kastin Kickland and Baby Girl Huckbody due on October 1, 2016.

He was preceded in death by his mother Irene Coplin, his daughter Sandra Nygaard and many members of Catherine's family.

The family would like to thank Dr. Thomas Ho for many years of compassionate care as well as the caregivers at Colfax Rehabilitation Center, Hilltop on Pepper, Atrium Post Acute Care and Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice for the excellent care given to Robert. The family would also like to thank Ritchay Funeral Home for their assistance and understanding during this difficult time.