Cover photo for Robert M. "Bob" Rister's Obituary
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Robert M. "Bob" Rister

October 28, 1924 — April 12, 2017

Robert M. "Bob" Rister

Robert M. Rister (Bob) of Shawneetown, Il.  slipped into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12 at the Villas of Holly Brook, his place of residence for the past year. He was 92 years young.   

Bob was born in Omaha, Il on October 28, 1924 to the late Alvin and Mary (Mathis) Rister.  He graduated from Shawneetown High School after also attending school in Omaha and Ridgway.   He and his brother, Bill, excelled in their favorite sport of basketball and were known as “The Rister Boys”.  Bob had many interesting stories of basketball days that he loved to share. 

After high school, he joined the Marines and served in the 2nd Marine Division from 1943-1946.  After completing basic training in San Diego, he served on the islands of Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, Okinawa, Nagasaki, and Pearl Harbor during WW II

After the war, he enlisted in the reserves and was called up for active duty in the Air Force in March 1949 and served his country once again from 1950-1952 at Marsch Air Force Base in Riverside, California during the Korean Conflict.  He served in this capacity until December, 1952. 

In 1947, he married Mary Jo Moore, the love of his life and they shared 60 years of marriage until her death in February 2008.  They made their home in Shawneetown where they raised their family.  In 1950, Bob became a case worker for the Illinois Department of Public Aid and eventually became the acting Superintendent, a job he kept until retirement in 1984.  He also had his own tv/antennae service business based out of his home.  Bob was director of the Khoury League for 30 years, active in the Lions Club, volunteered at Golden Circle, was the oldest member of the American Legion Post No. 585, and was an avid Cardinal baseball fan.  He was a faithful member of the Shawneetown United Methodist Church where he taught Sundayschool and served as Sunday school Superintendent.  He was presently attending Galatia Methodist Church. 

Bob is survived by 4 children, Judy (Don) Evrard, Scott (Patty) Rister, Bonnie Mahan(Terry Henderson), and Timothy (Elisa) Rister. He leaves 8 grandchildren, Dana (Philip) Hess, Corey (Mihaela) Evrard, Jason Rister, Robi Mahan, Reiana Mahan, Tonya (Noah) Creager, Toshia (Seth) Everett, and Trina (Danny) Iannarelli, 13 great grandchildren, brother in law John (Patty) Moore, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

In addition to his parents and step mother, Mabel, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jo, his youngest brother, Richard Rister, his older brother, Bill Rister, and half sister, Joanne Cutrell. 

Visitation will be Wednesday, April 19 at Cox and Son Funeral Home in Shawneetown from 11-1 with funeral at 1:00 p.m.

Burial with military rights will be in Westwood Cemetery.

We would like to generously thank the nursing staff of Hospice of Southern Illinois for their compassion and care, the staff of the Villas of Holly Brook which he has called home for the past year, and the friends and family who have shown their love for our father with prayers and expressions of love and kindness. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or memorials may be made at the funeral home in memory of our dad for a memorial bench in his honor to be presented to The Villas of Holly Brook where he enjoyed his extended family and friends.   

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert M. "Bob" Rister, please visit our flower store.

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