Robert "Bob" Allan Herzig

Robert Allan Herzig (1922-2017)Robert Allan Herzig, age 94, of Keystone Heights, Florida, formerly of Lenox, Massachusetts, died February 8, 2017. Born in Pittsfield, MA on July 26, 1922 to Edward and Grace Herzig, he graduated from Pittsfield High School (Class of 1940) where he enjoyed playing varsity basketball. He served in the 429th Medical Collecting Company of the United States Army as a Surgical Technician during World War II, working in the precursor to what would in later conflicts become known as a "MASH" unit. His company was attached to several different divisions in the European Theater including the 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, Bob, as he was known to all, attended Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Tulsa Oklahoma where he studied Aeronautical Engineering on the GI bill. He then married his long time sweetheart, E. Myrl (Gleason) Herzig on May 21, 1949 and built their family home in Lenox where they raised their eight children. Prior to his retirement at age 70, he worked as a carpenter for various builders including David Tierney and Sons where he was lead foreman on many jobs including the conversion and remodeling of the former Jesuit property, Shadowbrook in Stockbridge to the Kripalu Center. For all of his adult life he was a devoted student of the Bible and a pastor in the Laymens Home Missionary Movement. He loved leading bible classes and lecturing on Biblical topics. Bob cultivated an avid interest in self-sufficiency, gardening, growing fruit trees and cultivating several types of berries, foraging for wild mushrooms, making birch beer, sarsaparilla, dandelion wine and sauerkraut all from what he found or grew on the land that was his home. He so enjoyed making homemade maple syrup from the sap collected from trees on his Lenox property that together with his son in law, Bill Markham, he built his own sugar house on the property. He enjoyed entertaining field trips of elementary children at the Mill Brook Sugar House every Spring during sugaring season. He is predeceased by his first wife of 58 years, E. Myrl (Gleason) Herzig, and his four brothers, Gerald Herzig, Elmer Herzig, Lester Herzig and Ralph Herzig. He leaves his wife of the past 8 years, May Herzig of Keystone Heights, FL, and his children, Allan Herzig of Otis, MA, Elaine Markham and her husband William Markham of Glendale , MA, Nancy Whitman of Lenox, MA, Amy Long and her husband Douglas Long of Palmer , MA, Sarah Dallaire and her husband Robert Dallaire of Nashua , NH, Shirley Lafave and her husband Alfred Lafave of Lenox, MA, Emily Herzig and her partner, Bryan Sherman of Beverly, MA, and Phillip Herzig and his partner Marcie Cormier of Goshen, MA. He also leaves his eleven grandchildren, Timothy Herzig of Palmdale, CA, Ernest Herzig of Fredericksburg, VA, Jessie Porter of Pittsfield, MA, Jeremy Dallaire , Adam Dallaire and Kaitlyn Perez of Nashua, NH, Ashley Barber of Bensalem, PA, Molly Whitman of Dallas, TX, Joshua Lafave of Worcester, MA, Rebecca Barone of Southside, AL, and Matthew Whitman of Watertown, MA. He leaves five great grandchildren, Wyatt Herzig, Tyler and Owen Barone, Emilia Lafave, and Michael Sachetta-Ramos .The family of Robert Herzig wish to extend heartfelt appreciation to his wifes entire family and to all of the LHMM brethren for their love and kindness.Memorial donations can be made to Haven Hospice of Orange Park, FL, Clay Transit @ Council on Aging, Keystone Heights, FL, Bible Standard Ministries, LHMM of Chester Springs, PA or to a charity of your choosing. Visiting hours and service will be graveside at Keystone Heights Cemetery on Thursday, February 16 with calling hours beginning at 10 a.m. and services immediately following at 11 a.m. Arrangements are under the care of JONES-GALLAGHER FUNERAL HOME, 340 E. WALKER DR. KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, FL 32656. 352-473-3176.www.jonesgallagherfh.com (Obituary submitted by family) Cemetery Keystone Heights Cemetery State Road 100 West Keystone Heights FL 32656 US Viewing Thursday, February 16, 2017 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Keystone Heights Cemetery State Road 100 West Keystone Heights FL 32656 US Graveside Service Thursday, February 16, 2017 11:00 AM - Keystone Heights Cemetery State Road 100 West Keystone Heights FL 32656 US Funeral Home Jones - Gallagher Funeral Home - Keystone Heights 340 East Walker Drive Keystone Heights FL - 32656 US (352) 473-3176