WESTFIELD – Robert W. Gollnitz, 95, of Westfield, died Sunday (Sept. 13, 2015) in Westfield Memorial Hospital.
He was born in Westfield on February 22, 1920, the son of the late John H. and Edith (Hanson) Gollnitz.
Bob was a veteran of World War II, flying 50 missions with 47th Bomb Squadron, 41st Bomb Group, 7th Air Force against the Japanese Held Marshall Islands in the Central Pacific. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters.
He retired in 1981 after 43 years with Welch Foods, Inc., serving as Foreman, General Foreman, Personnel Manager, and Production Planner and Scheduler.
He enjoyed the daily two mile walk with his wife, weather permitting, as well as their bowling Monday nights with their son Wade and his wife. They were proud to have been champs in the league 18 of the 27 years they bowled in the league. They also loved to golf mornings and in the leagues in the evenings. She had a hole-in-one in 1992 and he enjoyed making his second and third hole-in-ones in 2002 at the age of 82, and his fourth at the age of 84.
His memberships included the First Presbyterian Church of Westfield, a life membership with the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 118, Veterans of Foreign Wars post # 6764, the American Legion Post 327, the Westfield Firemen's Exempt Association, after serving 39 years with the Fire Department, and 22 years as Department Secretary, and life member of the Southwestern Association Volunteer Firemen State of New York.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Mildred Babbitt of Santa Maria, CA and Irene Falcone of Westfield, and one brother, John H. Gollnitz, Jr. also of Westfield.
He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Ople (Wilcox) Gollnitz, three sons, Wade R. (Trudy) Gollnitz of Westfield, Mark A. (Gini) Gollnitz of Westfield, and Dean W. (Mary Jo) Gollnitz of Marshville, NC as well as 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren, and 12 great great grandchildren.
A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Friday in the First Presbyterian Church in Westfield. Rev. Dana Vaughn will officiate. Burial will be in the Westfield Cemetery.
No visitation will be observed.
The Freay Funeral Home in Mayville is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 49 S. Portage ST., Westfield, NY 14787 or to a charity of choice.
You may light a candle or leave remembrance of Bob at www.freayfuneralhome.com