Obituary of Robert Joseph Kuster

Robert Joseph Kuster, age 90, of Whitewater, WI passed away on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at Fairhaven in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Robert was born in Gratiot, Wisconsin on May 19, 1922, the son of Josef and Mary Bertha (Schmucke) Kuster. He graduated from Monroe High School in 1940. Robert served his country as Master Sergeant and flight engineer in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1940 until 1970. Robert saw duty during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He received the Presidential Unit Citation Award WWII, Korean, Vietnam, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal 16 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Soldiers Medal, Commendation Medal 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal 5 Award, American Defense, Asiatic Pacific 7 Battle Stars, Philippine Liberatic Battle Stars, Victory Medal, Army Occupation Japan, Korean Conflict 5 Battle Stars, United Nations American Defense, National Defense, Vietnam Service and Conflict 6 Battle Stars, and the Koroang Medal. Robert was a member of the Smith Masonic Lodge #31 F & AM, the Palistine Chap Preston Council, Zor Shrine, Green County Shrine Club, the VFW, Caterpillar Club, American legion, Cooties, and served as an alderman for 6 years in Monroe, Wisconsin. Surviving are: Four Children: Cathy Elmer, Roswell, GA, Robert J.O. (Susan) Kuster, Verona, WI, William G. (Dale) Kuster, Whitewater, WI, and Sharon (Robert) Ratzburg, Las Vegas, NV, and their mother: Orpha Kuster, Monroe, WI, Two sisters:Gertrude Fields, Lake View, AK and Antionte Ratzlow, Mountain Home, AK, Seven Grandchildren and Five Great-grandchildren. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Joe, Ed, and Anton, and two sisters: Margaret Kuster and Metilda Kuster. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 14, 2012, at 11:00 AM at the Nitardy Funeral Homes Inc., 550 N. Newcomb Street, Whitewater, WI. Interment with military rites will be in the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Spooner, Wisconsin. Friends may call after 9AM on Saturday at the Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater, WI until the services.