Robert R. Filkins

Robert (Bob) Randall Filkins, age 92, passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Born June 18, 1931 in Buffalo, New York, Bob met his school sweetheart, Barbara Thorne, at the age of 16 at Birmingham High School. They married six years later and spent over six decades working side by side and raising a family throughout Michigan. Over the years the lived in Berkley, Orchard Lake, Cass Lake, Elk Rapids, Stanwood, and Frankfort, as well as Barefoot Bay, Florida. After Barbara passed, Bob was very fortunate to join in marriage with Jane Svoboda in 2016. Bob graduated at the top of his class from Michigan State University with a Doctorate in Veterinary medicine in June of 1959 and opened his first practice, the Berkley Animal Hospital, in August of the same year. He went on to own and operate two more veterinary hospitals one in Orchard Lake, Michigan and the other in Frankfort, Michigan. He developed several surgical techniques and was a mentor veterinarian through much his career. In the 1960’s he was involved in ground breaking research involving primates for the space program. Among his many other endeavors and pursuits were becoming a commercial, instrument rated seaplane pilot and owning two airplanes, as well as operating a fishing charter service at Elberta Charter Boat Marina, of which he was a founding member. Additionally he created the B&B Canvas company and worked for a brief time as a Real Estate Agent in the Stanwood area. From a very early age Bob was drawn to the out of doors. His passion for fishing, hunting, and trapping, filled the a greater portion of his days on this Earth. He was an avid firearm and bow hunter of grouse, pheasant, ducks, geese, turkey, deer, antelope and bear. He flew and fished extensively in Northern Ontario, building two cabins with his sons in the wilderness of Canada on Five Mile Lake, near Chapleau, Ontario. He spent many summers surrounded by family and friends fishing and enjoying the Canadian wilderness. He was a master angler of both fresh and saltwater, spending many a winter near Barefoot Bay, Florida Bob is survived by his spouse: Jane, and her children Joe (Amy) Svoboda, Susan Svoboda and Jim (Janis) Svoboda, grandchildren: Brianna, Riley, Alivia (Nick), Kyle (Kloe), Shailyn, Aubrey, Houghton and the late Chaz, Great grandchildren: Beau, Brooklynn and Banks. He is also survived by his siblings: Dorothy, John Jr.; children: Kim (Dennis) Ritchey, Randy (Camille), James (Pam); grandchildren: Jason, Seth, Danielle, Lee, Craig, Nicole (Patrick) Waggaman, Anna (Matt) Weaver, Michael Ritchey; great grandchildren Mara, Tanthalas, Clayton, Ian, Evan, Autumn, Tiberuis, and Teddy. He was preceded in death by his parents: John and Beulah (Carpenter) Filkins; in- laws: Maynard and Loretta Thorne; his first wife Barbara, and grandson: Levi Filkins. A memorial will be held May 10th, 2024 from 3 to 5 pm at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.

Robert R. Filkins

June 18, 1931 - April 24, 2024