As received from the Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Robert A. Traglia passed away peacefully on August 9, 2026, at the age of 97, at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Chicago.
Bob was born on February 27, 1929, in Saginaw, MI, to Anton Traglia and Desolina Balagna Traglia. At the age of 7, the family moved to Houghton, MI, where he graduated from Saint Ignatius Loyola Grade School and Houghton High School with the Class of 1947. He then attended Soumi College for a short time. Bob then joined the Army and when discharged, started Art school in Chicago. Being in the reserves, Bob was called back in the Army when the Korean War broke out and again was honorably discharged. Bob continued his education and graduated with a Business degree from Spencerian College in Milwaukee. He worked for various businesses, including the Ford Motor Company, before relocating to Chicago, where he eventually retired from the public-school bus company. He loved Chicago and made many friends while living there. Years later, Bob went on the Honor Flight to Washington, DC, where he met many veterans from across the U.S.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, sister Anna, brother Julio, and many aunts and uncles from South Range.
He is survived by his sister, Mary Gilpatrick, of Wauwatosa, WI, sister-in-law, Helen Traglia of DeKalb, IL, cousins Mavis Kolb of NJ, Frank (Kim) Taddeucci and Mary Taddeucci, 5 nephews and 1 niece, grandnephews and grandnieces, as well as other family members in the U.S. and Italy.
The family is grateful for the love and support from Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly, the Veterans Home of Chicago and Chicago VA hospitals, and especially Margaret V. of Chicago.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Bob will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, August 22, 2026, at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in Houghton. Visitation will take place from 10 am until the time of Mass at the church. Burial with military honors will take place in the Forest Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bob’s name would be appreciated to the Saint Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, St. Vincent DePaul Society, or the Copper Range Historical Society.
To view this obituary or to send condolences online to the family, please visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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