Robert Miles Zubritski Van Wagner was born April 11th 1941 in Hazleton, PA. He passed away after a wonderful life with many loved ones on May 12th, 2016 at his home, “On Golden Pond” in Yelm, WA.
As a young child he moved to Penn Yan, NY. Robert graduated from Corning Northside High School as a football & track star in 1959. He went to Marshall University on a track scholarship. Robert would go on to attend 5 different universities on his quest for his doctorate degree.
In 1963 he joined the U.S. Army and graduated from Officer-Candidate School as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1965. That same year he married Marcia Miller. From October 1965 to November 1966 he proudly served his country in Vietnam with the 2/32nd field Artillery Regiment.
In 1970 he became his greatest role of father, with the birth of his son Peter. In 1973, he welcomed his little girl Gretchen.
After spending time in Germany and traveling the world, he settled in the Pacific Northwest, his second home. In 1987 Robert and Marcia divorced.
Robert met and fell in love with his wife Carol in August of 1990. After a whirlwind romance, they married on December 22, 1990 and for many loving years lived in Olympia WA before retiring.
After retirement Robert & Carol became snowbirds, splitting their time between homes in Yuma AZ and Yelm WA with their two dogs, Tess & Teddy.
Robert is survived by his loving wife Carol; son Peter; daughter Gretchen; grandson Gaven; his two brothers-Thomas & Keith; his step sons-Tim, Dennis & Jim; step daughter Susan and numerous step grandchildren.
Robert will be interned at the Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA on June 6th 2016 at 11:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to any Veterans fund in his name as he was an extremely proud veteran of the U.S. Army.

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