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Robert J Prokop 1924 - 2004

Robert J Prokop of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI was born on March 19, 1924 in Milwaukee. Robert Prokop was married to Elizabeth Jane (Sweeney) on August 17, 1954 at Waukegan Courthouse in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and died at age 79 years old on January 22, 2004.

Robert J Prokop

Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI 53221

March 19, 1924

Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, 53221, United States

January 22, 2004

Male

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Robert J Prokop Robert Prokop (1924 - 2004)

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Robert J Prokop's History: 1924 - 2004

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03/19

1924

Birthday

March 19, 1924

Birthdate

Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin 53221, United States

Birthplace

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Military Service

Robert was in the army in WWII.
Professional Career

Robert always had a strong interest in playing a musical instrument; he chose drums. Before he finished high school, he was playing for Cy Zentner a big band leader. When WWII started he joined the army. He dutifully fought in the two Campaigns. He was wounded but managed to survive. On his return, he worked for Gunderson Ford selling cars. He received a job offer in Chicago and decided to get married and move to Waukegan, Illinois taking his new wife and her 5 year old daughter to live there. He started work as a salesman for the Chicago Cigar Company. About 4 years later, the family moved back to Milwaukee. He then worked for Nelson Brothers Pontiac for many years. Later in life he was offered a position as a guard at Burns Security overseeing the IBM facility in Milwaukee. He retired from Burns with the rank of Captain. During retirement he joined the Wilson Park Senior Center and discovered several men that played musical instruments for well know band leaders like Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Les Elgart. Bob felt it a shame to waste such talent just because of age, so he started a group called "The Wilson Knights" and played music from the big band era. It caught on quickly and soon many other retired musicians came forward to audition for his band. After years of organizing, rehearsing and attracting audiences, what emerged was a 27 piece orchestra with seven male and female vocalist. Bob was the band leader and his wife Elizabeth organized the music and the bookkeeping duties. His group performed for charities and business parties but soon, the dances he advertised were filled to the brim with sometimes 500 or more. His dream was realized and his fans danced the night away to the big band sound. His most passionate achievement was hearing about the schools discontinuing their music departments. The schools were convincing the board of education to dismantle teaching music. Bob knew how important music is to all of us and how beneficial it was to give students the opportunity to enjoy playing instruments of their own and to join others with like interests. It was so much more than music. It was a wholesome and bonding experience that created friendships and creativity and lifelong memories. Well, Bob had permission to demonstrate what the world would miss if they stopped the music. He brought the entire band to school that weekend and when the dance floor and stage were cleared, the words "shut it down" were never heard again. written by his step-daughter Kathleen - 2023
01/22

2004

Death

January 22, 2004

Death date

Unknown
Cause of death

Unknown
Death location

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Memories

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