Full Obituary

     ROBERT L. “BO” BODAMER, age 88, of Chippewa Falls, formerly of Thorp, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, December 10, 2017.  There will be a time to gather and celebrate Robert's life on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Thorp Funeral Home, in Thorp, from 2pm to 5pm.
     Robert Lawrence Bodamer was born on August 29, 1929 in Hobart, IN, to Ralph and Florence (Wyant) Bodamer.  He was raised and received his education in Merrillville, IN, where he graduated from high school in 1947.  After completing high school, Robert enlisted into the U.S. Air Force.  While stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT, he met and married Joan E. Brown on June 6, 1952.  He was honorably discharged on January 15, 1956. Robert then enrolled at Bradley University, in Peoria, IL, where he took a course to learn how to be a watch maker.  They moved to Grand Forks, ND and finally settled in Thorp in 1959, where he purchased the jewelry store.  In 1974, he sold the jewelry store and worked for the City of Thorp until retiring in 1995.  They moved to a home on Lake Wissota, where he resided until his death.
     He was a member of the Thorp American Legion Post #118, a former member of the Thorp Lions Club, a former member of the Thorp Moose Lodge, a former member of the Mason's, and was a EMT on the Thorp Ambulance and a volunteer fireman on the Thorp Fire Department, where had served as Fire Chief.  Robert had many interests, but especially loved camping, deer hunting, fishing, bowling, collecting trains, golfing and flying planes.
     He will be sadly missed by his wife, Joan, of Chippewa Falls;  4 children:  Philip (Tami) Bodamer of Gearhart, OR,  Jennifer (Robert) Evans of Zephyr Cove, NV,  Paul Bodamer of Thorp,  Jessica (Dewey) Gilchrist of De Forest, WI;  5 grandchildren: Nikki, Christopher, Stephanie, Chelsea and Trisha;  9 great-grandchildren;  2 sisters:  Shirley Fraley and Carol Avino, both of Hobart, IN;  nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends and his faithful companion Milo.
     He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Howard, and one sister:  Doris Jonak.