H. Robert Wack Obituary (1926 - 2021)

Robert Wack, 94, of Tucson passed peacefully on Jan. 10th, 2021. Born Dec. 8th, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, Bob served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After studying agriculture at the University of Illinois, he went on to have a long career at the USDA, where his love of the land and its bounty inspired his work educating farmers on agricultural practices at home and abroad. He received awards for visiting and advising the farmers of Stephenson County, Illinois, spent two years working with tribes and paramount chiefs in Sierra Leone, and guided numerous international agriculture students studying here in the U.S. In his retirement here in Tucson, he delighted family and friends exploring dusty trails and roads, cotton and alfalfa fields in Southern Arizona and Sonora, where he would find cultural gems unknown to most natives, testing his Spanish with shopkeepers in Mexico, and joking with the waitresses at Jerry Bob's. Perhaps more importantly, he could often be found on bended knee with a scattering of tools, working to fix something. On better days he would be spoiling his dogs with a McDonalds cone or at the helm of a boat, any size or shape would do, wetting his line. Bob is survived by a brother, Roland Wack, and his wife, Pam Wack; four children, Jeffery, Elizabeth, Andrew and Creed Wack; a son-in-law, Fred Fiastro; five grandchildren, Alex, Tyler, and Chloe Wack, Amelia and Anna Fiastro; and two nieces, Shannon Wack and Lisa Chatellier. His survivors will miss him dearly and cherish what he taught them always. There will be a private ceremony on January 22nd, 2021 to lay Robert Wack to rest at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Marana, AZ. Please in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) or Casa de los Ninos of Tucson, in his name.