Document text
1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Robert Gustav Nordquist Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jun. 23, 2016 at 2:00 AM Posted Jun. 23, 2016 at 2:00 AM » Social News Robert "Bob" Gustav Nordquist, 92, of Moscow, Idaho passed away June 12, 2016, at Gritman Medical Center. He was born April 9, 1924 to Elsa Clara Anderson Nordquist and Gustav Gunnar Nordquist in Oakland, Calif. While in high school, Bob helped his dad with his taxidermy business and was president of his natural science club. Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1942 and went to Fort Ord. He took his basic training at La Junta, Colorado. He attended photography school at Lowry Field in Denver. Afterward, he was sent to Eglin Air Force Base, aircraft proving ground, in Florida and served in the Photography Corps. His general duties included training of pilots with a gunpoint-training camera, photographing dances and entertainers, and taking publicity photos for Air Force records. After an honorable discharge in 1946, Bob returned home with dreams of attending college and studying biology, when his father asked him to help him catch up on a backlog of taxidermy work, including over 300 deer heads. In July of 1947, Bob took over his father’s taxidermy business. The business was located in Orinda, Calif., where Bob mounted between 150–200 deer heads a year, along with numerous other animals. One of his most difficult jobs was mounting a Galapagos turtle, which weighed 500 lb. Bob also did special tanning of hides for scientific purposes for the Universities of Louisiana, Kansas, Illinois, Washington, and California and the counties of Los Angeles and San Diego. Bob served the Boy Scouts of America as a Scout Master in Orinda in 1947, the first year he got out of the service, and was with the scouts for several years. He did some district work for Contra Costa County as well and sat on the Eagle Scout Board of Review. Bob was also a charter member of the Orinda Rotary Club in 1949. He was the youngest member and served as the first Sergeant at Arms. In 1954, Bob chased a pretty kindergarten teacher around the dance floor on Valentine’s Day. She finally agreed to dance with him and they were married six months later. Bob and Marilyn moved to Bishop, Calif. in 1957 with the idea of Bob working for Dave Wiltsie in his store and also doing some taxidermy. Bob took over the business and it became “Bob Nordquist’s Country Sierra” where he sold gifts and clothing. He continued his taxidermy from his shop at his home. In 1979, Bob sold the business on Main Street to Schat’s Bakery. Bob was heavily involved in the Bishop Chamber of Commerce and was a two-term consecutive president of the Chamber. He convinced the city council to purchase a kit for an A-frame building to house the Chamber, and helped assemble it in the Chamber’s current location. Bob was board chair of the Bishop Union High School school board, and was a proud founding member of the annual Bishop Mule Days Celebration. He was also involved in the trout derby. Bob greatly enjoyed the countryside around Bishop, and liked to hunt, fish, and take photographs. Bob and Marilyn lived in Bishop for 35 years. In 1992, after Marilyn retired from teaching, they decided to move to Ashland, Ore. While in Ashland, Bob and Marilyn became active members of the Unitarian Universalist Church. Bob became chair of the Building and Grounds Committee and a member of the board. He was one of the founding members of the church’s endowment and its first treasurer. Bob and Marilyn decided to move to Moscow, Idaho in 2005, to be closer to their daughter and four granddaughters. He enjoyed attending their school events and was a very proud grandfather. Bob is survived by his son, Gregg Nordquist, his wife Ann, and their son Sean. He is also survived by his daughter, Nora Moser, her husband, Dan and their daughters, Kelsey, Haley, Jenna, and Zoe. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gustav and Elsa and his wife of 56 years, Marilyn. Fiercely independent, Bob remained in his house with his little corgi for company. He always planted a garden and enjoyed feeding the many quail and songbirds who frequented his yard. The family wishes to thank the staff at Gritman Medical Center for their kindness and care of Bob while he was hospitalized. At his request, there will be no memorial service. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bob's memory may be made to a charity of your choice. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jun. 23, 2016 at 2:00 AM You may leave your condolences or share memories by signing the Guest Book here » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501