OBITUARY
Robert (Bob) Joseph Wielatz passed away on November 14, 2016 due to complications of a heart attack and stroke which occurred on August 18, 2015.
Bob was born January 13, 1940, to Joseph George Paluch and Frances Tucker Paluch. Bob’s birth father deserted him and his mother when Bob was a baby. Ross Wielatz adopted Bob when he married Bob’s mother.
Bob graduated from Tooele High School in 1958. He joined the Air Force that fall. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and Radar Training, in Biloxi Mississippi, he married Connie Smith.
He was stationed at Hill Air Force Base then attended Officer Candidate School. He graduated from pilot training school and flew B-52s and FB-111s. He served a total of two and a half years in the Vietnam War receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross for one of his most dangerous and challenging missions.
Bob was an FB-111 Squadron Commander, a Supply Commander, and Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Logistics. Bob retired as a Colonel in 1990, after honorably serving his country for 32 ½ years.
After retirement from the Air Force, he worked for Northrup Grumman and then consulted with them on many projects including space systems. After Bob retired for the sixth or seventh time, he enjoyed hunting and fishing with Marv, Ken, and Doug Lee, Sid and Fred Smith, and trips to Wendover with the Lee brothers and Toby and Helen Morgas. He also enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends.
Bob was a positive and loving person. If anyone asked him how he was, he would always enthusiastically respond, “I’m terrific.”
Bob loved watching Westerns. Everyone who met him would agree, whether in a Western or in real life, he would be the one wearing the white hat. He was one of the good guys.
Bob is survived by his wife Connie, daughters Cathy Wielatz, Julie Wielatz, Suzan Bennett, Karen (Tim) Starback, Granddaughters Bridget Stroud and Abby Bennett, Grandson Ryan Starback, and Great Granddaughter Saphira Stroud, Brother Richard, and Sister Mary. He was preceded in death by his mother Frances Almeida, Father Ross Wielatz, Step-Mother Hazel Wielatz and Step-Sister Sharon Gotier.
A viewing is planned for Friday Nov. 18 from 6-8pm at Tate Mortuary, with a funeral following on Saturday at St. Marguerites Nov. 19, 11am with a viewing an hour prior.
Burial was in Tooele City Cemetery, Tooele, Utah.
