Memorial services celebrating the life of Mr. Robert “Bob” Quam will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at Pine Prairie First Baptist Church, with Reverend Lee Walton officiating, under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Pine Prairie.

Mr. Quam, 88, of Pine Prairie, entered eternal rest on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at Prairie Manor Nursing Home, Pine Prairie, LA.

At age 14, with all of his possessions packed into a cardboard box, he made the decision to leave home and head west to Wyoming in search of better opportunities with his brother, Dode Mullen. Together they would work manual labor jobs for the town of Newcastle, cowboying at rodeos, and as ranch hands to make enough money to enjoy each weekend using their aliases “Stormy Waters & Rocky Cliff”. The two would form a bond that would tie both of their future families together for more than seventy years.

In January 1954, Bob and his brother, Dode, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.  Bob served his country as a reciprocating engine mechanic.  He would go on to serve time in Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Texas, and Louisiana.

While stationed at England Air Force Base in Alexandria, LA., he would meet and fall in love with the food, culture, and a Cajun girl named Barbara Ann Ortego. He would go on to marry his own Cajun Trinity on October 5, 1957. Together they enjoyed travels, transfers, and new duty assignments as the Air Force relocated them.  Between 1957 and 1974, they created a family with their first born, Blain in 1960, and Rhonda in 1962. Bob and Barbara enjoyed traveling overseas to Spain, Portugal, and Holland. They also enjoyed many stateside travels that involved their camping friends and stepping foot in nearly all fifty States. They shared nearly sixty-five years of love and laughs.

In July 1974, TSgt. Robert Quam received an honorable discharge, retired from the Air Force, and relocated his family to Pine Prairie, Louisiana. He initially went to work for the town of Pine Prairie, and then built homes under the direction of Mervin Olivier. In 1976, he was offered a position offshore as an engine room mechanic. His final career move was to Boeing Aircraft in Lake Charles, where he once again was working with aircraft.  He fully retired in May of 1995. He would then serve the Evangeline Parish Waterboard District One as Vice President from 1995 to 2024.

His hobbies and talents were shared from his home with repairing washers, dryers, lawn mowers and nearly anything with a mechanical base.  His talents and love of serving others was deeply expressed in his love of Jesus and his church family. One of his favorite sayings was, “you can’t outgive God.”  He enjoyed singing in the choir, workdays, brotherhood supper nights, biscuit busts on Sunday nights, and several mission trips.

Bob celebrated many joys in his life, but some of his greatest joys were love of his children, Blain Quam (Esther), and Rhonda LaFleur (Mark); and his grandchildren, Jamie Rosatto (Scotty), Candi Delafosse (Shane), Brandi Deville (Jeremy), Brock LaFleur (Samantha), and Courtney LaFleur. He found boundless joy every day in being a great grandfather to six great grandchildren, Slaton, Peyton, Payslie, Alyssa, Preston, and Elliot.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Barbara Ann Ortego Quam; father, Morris Quam; mother, Agnes Quam; brothers, Marvin and James “Jimmy”; and sister, Bonnie Quam.

A special thank you to the most amazing care team who served tirelessly with love and compassion: Linda Fontenot, Lynn Granger, Danita Arnette, Patsy Krist, Gay Clark, Marsha Remirez, and Tonya Bailey.

A special thank you to Dr. Jake Lafleur and his staff, the Evangeline Home Health Agency, the V.A. Homebase Program, and Hope Hospice for their continuous support.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that love offerings be made to the First Baptist Church, Children’s Camp Fund, in his memory.

A time of visitation will be held at First Baptist Church, Pine Prairie, on November 6, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. until time of service.