Robert Wesley Patterson

     Robert Wesley "Bob" Patterson, age 94, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Friday, February 16, 2024, at his home. 

     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, with Chaplain Lori Pollitz and C. Leslie Charles officiating.  Burial will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 from 2-8 P.M. with the family present from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. at the funeral home. 

     Robert was born in Pompeii, Michigan on November 18, 1929, the son of Louie Altenburg and Gladys Elsie (Frasier) Patterson.  He graduated from Fulton High School with the Class of 1948.  Bob married the love of his life Rosa Lee Feighner on March 16, 1952, in San Francisco, CA.

      Bob worked at Oldsmobile for a short time as a welder and then went to work for Van Smalley on Lansing Street in St. Johns. Bob and Rosie went on to purchase the building from Van and Vera Smalley. They owned and operated Bob's Auto Body Shop from 1955 until 1993, when his children took the business over.  The business was then sold to their granddaughter Samantha and Jesse in 2020. Bob enjoyed building race cars, auto racing, building and working on motors. Bob even built his own motor home for hauling his race car. He was a jack of all trades and he could fix anything. He received the Mechanic of the year award from the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club.  Bob was a perfectionist, a gifted teacher, and he passed on his knowledge to many. He was a very loving family man and he worked hard to provide for those he loved.

     He is survived by wife Rosa Lee Patterson of St. Johns, MI; son Kris and Cathy Patterson of Houghton Lake, MI; daughter Linda Patterson of St. Johns, MI; seven grandchildren: Bryan (Morgan) Patterson, Jamie (Matt) Martin, Wesley (Jessica) Patterson, Elissa Patterson, Ashley (Drew) Vitek, Samantha (Jesse) VanEtten, and Kris Patterson Jr. (Marissa); great-grandchildren: Bobby, Georgia Grace, Kimy, Miles, Zoey, Cademon, Emerson, Logan, Annabelle, Maci, Max, Hudson, Annabelle, Knox, and Peyton.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his son and daughter-in-law Kim (Sandy) Patterson, and his siblings: Leone (Henry) Schulze, and Ward (Frances) Patterson.

      Memorials may be made to St. Vincent De Paul, 1009 South U.S. Highway 27, St. Johns, MI 48879. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.