Robert E. Payette, Sr.

A graveside service celebrating the life of Robert E. Payette, Sr., age 92, of Newark, will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, at Cedar Hill Cemetery with Deacon Patrick Wilson officiating. Military honors will be observed by the Licking County Veterans Alliance. Friends may call from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. prior to the service on Thursday at Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home, 179 Granville Street in Newark. Robert was born July 12, 1925 in Haverhill, MA to the late Zenon and Anna (Coulombe) Payette. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 7:03 am at Northern Lakes Senior Living in Baxter, MN. Robert, Sr. was a World War II veteran of the United States Navy and held the rank of Seaman First Class. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN. He was employed by the Ohio Department of Transportation and following his retirement worked for Shelly & Sands. He was commonly known as Cigar Bob. He served on the board of the Stillmeadow Association and for years was responsible for the maintenance of the local pool. An avid hockey player, he often shoveled and plowed the frozen pond in Stillmeadow for ice skating and hockey games. He was proud to be a member of the 2006 Senior Olympic Ice Hockey Team that won a gold medal in Blaine, MN. He was the cherished father of Laurette Payette (partner Connie), Carol Schirner (husband Dave), Robert, Jr. (wife Sue), Kenneth (wife Terry), Renee LaFollette (husband Gene), and Denise Payette; grandfather of four, Jennifer Schirner, David Schirner, Peter Payette, and Annette Payette; and great-grandfather of two, Oliver Muston and Annabelle Schirner. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 49 years, Margaret (Clark) Payette; and his sister, Laurette Payette. Memorial contributions may be made to Northern Lakes Senior Living - www.ebenezercares.org; Ebenezer Society Foundation 2722 Park Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407; or to Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund www.heartlandhospicefund.org. Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Robert and the Payette family.