Robert Earl Erkson

Robert Earl Erkson, 84, of Kensington, widower of Elsie Dixon Erkson, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on October 1, 2017.

Born in Burlington CT, he was the son of Earl Case Erkson and Sadie Okenquist Erkson.

Bob was a resident of Kensington for 64 years and of Winter Haven FL for 15 years.  He was a US Navy veteran and retiree of SNET after 32 years of service.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hartford.  He was a former volunteer with Berlin Little League, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and a member of several bowling leagues in the area.  Bob was an active member and former officer of the Connecticut Model A Restorers Club.  He was also an active member of the VFW Post 10732 in Berlin, American Legion Post 68 in Berlin, American Legion Post 8 in Winter Haven FL, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge Number 957 in New Britain, Telephone Pioneers of America and the SNET Retirees Association.  Bob was recently honored at the 61st New England Model A Meet in Conway NH for attending over 35 New England Meets.  He was a lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox, enjoyed traveling with his family and fiancée, golfing with his friends around New England and Florida, working on and driving his Model A cars in the USA and Canada, and repairing anything and everything that crossed his workshops in Kensington and Winter Haven.

Surviving are his daughter Lori-Ann Erkson and son-in-law David E. Orsini from Cheshire, daughter Cynthia Potanka and son-in-law David Potanka from Berlin, son Brian R. Erkson and daughter-in-law Marian Erkson from Middletown; grandchildren Steven (April) Rusnack of Fort Kent ME, Sean Rusnack of Cheshire, Sarah (Vipul) Patel of Kensington, Scott (Katherine) Potanka of Kensington, Stacy Potanka of Berlin and Melissa Sanders of Wethersfield; seven great-grandchildren; fiancée Audrey Zelek of Kensington and her family;  brother of Stanley (Adeline) Erkson of Fort Plain, NY, Betty (Maurice) Calabrese of Palatine Bridge, NY and Edward (Marsha) Erkson of Boxford, MA; brother-in-law of Barbara Dixon of Kensington and Eleanor Dixon of New Britain; several Erkson and Okenquist cousins, numerous nieces and nephews and best friend Dick Harrison of Guilford.  In addition to his parents and wife Elsie, he was predeceased by his son Thomas R. Erkson.

Calling hours will be on Thursday from 4-8 PM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 So. Main St., New Britain.  Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 9 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM at St. Paul Church, 485 Alling St., Kensington.  Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Farmington.

Memorial donations to honor his wife may be made to The American Diabetes Association, 300 Research Parkway, Meriden CT 06450.