Robert D. Wisdom died Thursday, March 15, 2018, at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Lewiston. He was 94 years old.
Bob was born Aug. 4, 1923, at his maternal grandparents' ranch on the breaks of the Salmon River near Keuterville. He was the first child born to parents Roy and Meta (Schroeder) Wisdom.
He grew up with six siblings on the family's ranch on Squaw Creek outside Riggins, and was in the first graduating class at Riggins High School in 1941. Drafted in 1943, Bob was stationed in England, where he was a wing gunner on a B-17 in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After his discharge in 1945, Bob went into partnership with his parents on the Squaw Creek cattle ranch.
Bob helped establish the American Legion Post No. 130 in Riggins and remained active in the organization throughout his life. He ran the legion's hotdog and hamburger stand at the Riggins Rodeo for decades. In 2000, he was honored to be chosen as grand marshal of the Riggins Rodeo.
The Wisdoms sold their ranch in 1979. Bob and his parents moved to Grangeville, where he worked in road maintenance for the Nez Perce National Forest until retiring in 1988.
Bob enjoyed spending time in the outdoors, particularly in the woods, and was an avid gardener. He loved talking with people wherever he went. Bob walked about 5 miles a day along U.S. Highway 95 outside Grangeville into his late 80s. He entered the Idaho State Veterans Home in Lewiston in 2011.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; brother Paul; and brothers-in-law Marvin Garner and Marlin Crist. He is survived by siblings Harold and Carmen Wisdom of Pittsboro, N.C., Joyce Crist and Marlene Wisdom of Boise, Daphne Garner and Betty and Jim Spickelmire of Grangeville; and nephews and nieces Karen Folwell, David Crist, Dennis Garner, Doug Garner, Daryl Garner, Debbie Schlieper, Krista Green, John Spickelmire, Kelly Bambacigno and John Wisdom, and their families. He was loved and will be missed greatly.
Blackmer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Services for Bob will be held in the spring.
