Robert "Bob" William Crampton

            Bob Crampton, 73, of Petoskey, died September 25, 2016 at his home from complications from Pulmonary Fibrosis, Diabetes, and COPD.

            Bob was born on January 14, 1943 in Bay City, Michigan. He attended Bay City Central School and was an exceptional student by all measures. Bob was Class President his freshman year, he played varsity football all four years, pitched on the school's baseball team and was an excellent basketball player, as well. Bob met the love of his life his senior year of high school, Bonnie Burman of Midland, MI. 

            After high school, Bob went to college at the University of Wyoming on a football scholarship. He later moved back to Michigan and completed his college degree at Central Michigan University. On November 11, 1962, Bob and Bonnie were married in Bay City. Together, they had two daughters, Cathrin and Christin.

            Bob worked at Meisel Hardware in Bay City in the electrical department before moving on to Consumer’s Energy for 18 years in electrical and gas distribution. Following his retirement from Consumer’s, Bob went into commercial real estate. He worked for Henry Johnson Real Estate in Bay City, The Miller Group in Saginaw, and  Owner Realty in Essexville. During that time, Bonnie and Bob had a vacation home in Harbor Springs, MI and knew they wanted to retire Up North. Soon after Bonnie retired from teaching in 2000, they made their home in Petoskey full time.

            Bob was very active. He enjoyed boating, sailing and occasionally fishing. He liked to go traveling with his family and skiing in northern Michigan and Colorado. He was a gifted golfer and even worked at Boyne and as a ranger at Bay Harbor. Bob had a great group of hunting buddies that he would spend deer season with every year and sometimes at the family cottages on Long Lake in Phelps, WI.

            In his youth, he was a boy scout and he never lost the desire to be involved in community activities. While living in Bay City, Bob was affiliated with the local Elks Club and Lions Club. Later in life, he would lend his skills to the Junior Achievement Classes and become a Deacon and an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Bay City.

                        More than anything, Bob loved his family. Bob is survived by his wife, Bonnie Crampton of Petoskey, MI; his daughters, Cathrin Crampton of Denver, CO and Christin Crampton-Day (Scott) of Denver, CO; grandchildren, Nicholas Roznowski of Harbor Springs, MI; Justin Roznowski of Boulder, CO; Anna Griffis of Broomfield, CO; Lindsay Day and Darby Day of Denver, CO; great granddaughter, Amrielle Roznowski of Boulder, CO; his sister, Nancy Crampton Mueller (Gary) of Bay City; brother-in-law Wolfgang David of Plantation, FL; mother-in-law, Reita Burman of Petoskey, MI; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth (Burman) Potter (Donnald) of Pine Plains, NY; Becky (Burman) Whitehead (Richard) of Merrill, MI; and brother-in-law, Brad Burman of Midland, MI. He also leaves nieces and nephews, Jon DeOpsomer, Jill DeOpsomer, Jeanie DeOpsomer-Snyder, Marc Uhlmann, Scott Uhlmann and Jonathon Potter.  Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Mildred, his sister, Marcia Crampton David, and by his father-in-law, Frank Burman.

            The Crampton family would like to extend their gratitude to the aids at Hospice of Little Traverse Bay.

There will be a memorial service, Friday, September 30, 2016 at The First Presbyterian Church in Petoskey where he had been a member for the last 15 years, at 11:00 a.m. with a one hour visitation prior to the service. Those wishing to honor Bob's life with a charitable contribution are asked to consider the John and Marnie Demmer Wellness Pavilion and Dialysis Center c/o McLaren Northern Michigan Hospitals, American Diabetes Association, or COPD American Lung Association.

            Arrangements are in the care of Stone Funeral Home in Petoskey, MI.

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