Gideon Robarge (fifth from the left), and former MRPA Team mates:  Left to right:  Kim Copenhaver, Ed Gostomski, Tom Webber, Harlan "Butch" Davenport, Gideon, Bruce Schlemmer, and Reggie Phillips

Gideon A. Robarge, 70, of Ossineke passed away Saturday, February 26, 2011 at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids.  Gideon was born in Pontiac on May 11, 1940.

His entire career was spent with the Department Of Social Services, starting as a delinquency counselor at a residential youth camp. He moved to Alpena to become a delinquency specialist at the Regional Office of Youth Services in Alpena eventually becoming the Dual County Director of Alcona and Iosco Counties until his retirement.

In his retirement, he became active in the county 4-H program as a leader in the Outdoor Adventure Challenge Club sharing his love of out-door sports including climbing, rappelling, hiking, canoeing, winter camping, and cross-country skiing. Summers, he headed down to North Carolina where he loved “working” as a white water rafting guide on the Nantahala River.

With his experience as an accomplished Marksman he taught and trained many youth in Hunter Safety Programs as well as indoor shooting sports. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, especially duck hunting and ice-fishing (the colder the better), and yet still found time to line dance and couples dance with his wife.

Gideon competed as a member of the Michigan Rifle and Pistol Association Service Rifle Team starting back in the 1960s through the early 1990s.   He was a Distinguished Rifleman, and a member of the Michigan Team that won the Leatherneck Trophy in the National Infantry Trophy Team Match in 1990, 1991, and 1994. 

Comments by the poster:

I met Gideon while a Junior shooter back in around 1965.  He was always friendly, and helpful.  Although due to my military service I had not seen him much during the intervening years, I was aware of his association with the Michigan Service Rifle Team.  An association that spanned a couple of decades. 

He will be missed.