Robert Rainer

Robert “Bob” Hadrian Wilcox-Rainer, passed away on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at the age of 94. He was born February 6, 1929, in Kalamazoo, MI, and raised in Grand Rapids. Bob was a loving husband to his wife of 58 years, Kathleen (Katie, nee Hackett, died 2014). Together they were blessed with their children, Sandra “Sandy” (Bob) Rainer-LaFleur, Terry Rainer (OR), and Tim Rainer (CA). Bob was a loving grandpa to Jeremy Gesmundo, Heather (David) Hofrichter, and Emily (Jory) Hoffman and great grandchildren, Camryn and Carter Gesmundo and Riley and Hayden Hofrichter and Sophie Rose Hoffman. Bob was a graduate of Catholic Central High School (1947) and Aquinas College, majoring in Spanish. He put his bilingual skills to work when he joined the U.S. Army as a Corporal, stationed in Panama. After serving his country, Bob began his adult working life as a private investigator, eventually moving to a long and fulfilling career as a treasury official with the State of Michigan for 32 years. Bob was well known for his quick wit, positive attitude, spontaneous poems/limericks, and his numerous volunteer roles in his Florida homebase at Japanese Gardens. He also lent his beautiful tenor voice to numerous community plays/musicals and his church choir, first at Blessed Sacrament Parish, and most recently Epiphany Cathedral, Venice, FL. He was a member of Catholic War Veterans. Bob was preceded in death by his siblings, twin sister, Tamsen R. Vanderwier, Barbara VanAllsburg, Harold Otis and Lorraine Otis; his birth parents, Ray and Vivian Otis; adoptive parents, Robert & Helene Wilcox, and James & Helene (Wilcox) Rainer. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of The Village of Heather Hills and Faith Hospice, especially Kathy RN, Katie RN, Paul RN, Kim CNA, and his faithful volunteer, Dick. Memorials can be sent to Faith Hospice (click the link below to donate online) and/or the Japanese Gardens Memorial Fund, 6181 Teahouse Rd. Venice, FL. 34293. Gathering of family and friends will take place Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Parish, 2275 Diamond Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505, with a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. and a luncheon to follow. To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Bob’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.MichiganCremation.com Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006, exclusive providers of Veterans Funeral Care. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Rainer, please visit our flower store.