Robert K. Paxson

Robert K. Paxson, 89, of St. Joseph, died on Monday, February 13, 2006, at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. As requested, there will be no funeral services; his body was donated to the Medical Facility of the University of Michigan Hospital. A memorial service may be announced by heirs at a later date. Arrangements will be made by Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Later burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac. Memorials may be given to the Berrien County 4-H Foundation or the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club Foundation. Friends may send the family a condolence message or sign the guest book at www.starks-menchinger.com Mr. Paxson was born August 22, 1916, in Dowagiac. He had lived in the Twin Cities since 1939. He attended the University of Michigan and took courses at Michigan State and Harvard Universities. During WW II, he served in the 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron, 8th Air Force. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, a former board member of the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club and Secretary of the Berrien County 4-H Foundation for 17 years. For 36 years, he worked for Paxson Advertising, Inc. as a copywriter and account executive, becoming president and board chairman. After merging his company with the Netedu Advertising firm in 1978, he worked there three years as vice president before retiring. As a hobby, he became a writer of short stories and enjoyed photography, travel and the study of ancient cultures. He is survived by his wife, Irene (Gregory) Paxson of St. Joseph; two sons, Gregory of Chicago and Barry (Cindy) of Stevensville; a daughter, Christine Kain (David Coe) of Santa Fe, New Mexico; grandchildren, Melissa, Zachary, and Nathan Paxson; and a great-grandchild Ryan Zamites. Also surviving him are a sister, Ruth (Bill) Pitts of Cadillac, MI; sister-in-law, Dorothy Paxson of St. Joseph; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Bessie Paxson and brothers, Kenneth, Ronald, Howard, and Gordon.