Robert Watson Taft (1947-2009)

TAFT, FREDIN, BROSSEAU, BROWN, HARRINGTON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 1/27/2009 at 20:08:50

THE DES MOINES REGISTER, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, Tuesday, January 27, 2009.

ROBERT WATSON TAFT

Ames

Robert Watson Taft, 61, of Ames, Iowa died quietly in his sleep January 5, 2009.

Bob was born June 25, 1947, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Robert S. and Ann (Fredin) Taft. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1965 after enlisting early in the Marines.

He served two tours of duty near the DMZ with the 3rd Recon Battalion, Fourth Regiment. He received a Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged in 1968.

Soldiers were not welcomed home in those days like they are today and it was difficult for him to leave his Marine brothers behind. In the early 1980’s he organized a support group of veterans who suffered from "war stress." Today we know this as PTSD, but this was not a recognized illness until long after he had been home.

Bob attended ISU and worked at a wide variety of jobs from chauffeur to restaurant owner. His favorite was as a self-proclaimed "Hermit Coach."

Family members left to celebrate his life are his son, Jamison Brosseau; brother and sisters: Dr. Art and Gigi Taft, Marion and David Brown; Barbara and Merrill Harrington, Marty Taft; and his cherished nieces and nephews.

A memorial will be held at Adams Funeral Home in Ames, February 28, at 3 p.m., with interment of his cremains in the Veteran’s Cemetery in Van Meter on March 2, at 9:30 a.m.