Robert James Cotter

Robert “Bob” J. Cotter, age 93, of Wetmore, died Saturday morning, March 28, 2026 at his home under the loving care of family and North Woods Hospice. Bob was born on December 30, 1932 in Dixon, Illinois to Kathleen Cotter and was raised by his grandparents, John and Mary Cotter. At the age of sixteen, he walked out of high school and went to work at the Freeman Shoe Company factory. When he was of age, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was in the Korean War with the 62nd Fighter Bomber Squadron. Bob went to Kadena AFB in Okinawa and after Korea was hurried to Formosa (Taiwan) to stop the communists. While on a walk outside of base, he was captured by the Chinese and talked himself out of capture with a pack a cigarettes. Bob returned to the States and while stationed at Kinross, he met Beverly Beaudry. They were married on January 21, 1956. They lived in Munising and then moved to Dixon and raised their three children. Bob went to work as a pipefitter and worked for thirty-two years for the Local 25 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union. He was a member of the V.F.W. in Illinois. After retirement in 1986, they returned to Bev’s home in the Munising area. He loved their home in the woods and being outdoors doing yard work, gardening, and cutting wood. Bob loved to stay busy.

Bob is survived by his wife of seventy years – Bev Cotter of Wetmore; son – Terry (June) Cotter of AuTrain; daughter – Cheryl (Phil) Arnold of Hoopole, IL; grandchildren – Matthew, T.J., Nathanial, Natalie, Jacob, and Emily; numerous great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law – Lynn Beckwith, Janice Nolan, and Kristy (Jeff) Kouri; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother - Kathleen Cotter; grandparents - John and Mary Cotter; daughter - Arlene “Dee Dee” Raica; grandson - Chad Raica; granddaughter – Lanae Arnold; brothers-in-law - Shelly and Melvin Beaudry, Terry Nolan, and Dick Beckwith; and niece Sherry Stromer.

Private graveside services with military honors will be held at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising.