Robert Terrence Mineau

Robert Terrence Mineau, our wonderful father, passed away July 13, 2021, one week after his 104th birthday. He was born July 6, 1917 to William Leonard Mineau and Rose Marie (Lecomte) Mineau and grew up in Oconto (Jabswitch), Wisconsin. On June 26, 1945 he married his sweetheart Monna Joyce Chatell. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps during the depression and later enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 13, 1940. He was stationed on the island of Oahu and was a firefighter at the Wheeler Air Force Base where he saw the beginning of the United States’ involvement in World War II. He saw the first two bombs fall on his way back from church the day of the Pearl Harbor attack. Robert traveled to France, Germany and England during his military service and was proud to be in John Maino’s “The Pacific” book.  After the service he worked for Don Hutson Motors and later for the paper mill until he retired from American Can. Robert was a talented woodworker having remodeled his house in Allouez and built several homes and a cottage through the years. After retirement he enjoyed travel to Florida, especially Daytona Beach. He loved playing cribbage, was a good cook and liked visits to see his favorite waitress Michelle and Manager Al at Red Lobster. Last but not least, the M&M Mars Company lost a great customer as Robert will no longer be eating peanut butter M&Ms.
Survivors include his children: Denise “DeDe” (Daniel) Szurgot of Green Bay, James “Jim” (Barbara) Mineau of Sobieski, Janine Mineau of Green Bay, Monica (Dick) Roel of Sturgeon Bay, Mary DeKeyser of De Pere, Timothy “Tim” (Tina) Mineau of Daytona Beach, FL; daughter-in-law: Martha Lefebvre of Green Bay; grandchildren: Nathan (Gretchen) Mineau, Robert (Brenda) Mineau, Michael (Carlie) Mineau, Molly (Oliver) Brown, Richard (Sandie) Roel, Alex Roel, Adam (Ali) DeKeyser, Sara (Todd) VanDenPlas; great-grandchildren: Haley and Levi Mineau, Natalie and Mattilyn Mineau, Laverne, Sebastian and Joseph Brown, Etta, Myra, Cora, Lila and Steven Mineau, Indra and Rylie Roel, Eli and Emery DeKeyser, Owen and Dani VanDenPlas; great-great grandson: Matthew R. Mineau; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his spouse Monna Mineau; parents William and Rose Mineau; siblings: Joseph Mineau, Mary (Arthur) Gering, Rev. David Mineau, John (Peggy) Mineau, Betty (Paul) Lebreck, Clifford (Mineau), Wilford (Violet) Mineau; mother-in-law Marie Chatell; grandfather-in-law (granddaddy) James Chatell; son Jon Mineau and grandson Matthew J. Mineau.
Family and friends may visit at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N Webster Ave, De Pere, on Monday, July 19, from 9:30am until 11:30am. Burial will be held at Oconto Catholic Cemetery with full military honors.
Our family would like to thank the caregivers of Unity Hospice.
So until we meet again, we’ll be “getting by”