Robert Arthur Garrison came into this world on May 13, 1945 in Loudon Township, IL, weighing a whopping 13 pounds. He was a special Mother’s Day present to his mom, Fern Kathryn (Morris) Garrison and a blessing to his father, Otha Vincent Garrison. He married Ruth Ann Arndt on April 24, 1964, in Vandalia. Our beloved, Robert Arthur Garrison, age 80, passed away Sunday, November 30, 2025, at his residence in Vandalia, IL. He was a member of Crown Point Church, St. Peter Sportsmans Club-Gatch Lake, the NRA and the UAW.
He is survived by his life-long love; Ruth Ann Garrison of Vandalia, IL. During over 61 years of marriage, he and his wife were blessed with 4 children; Angie (David) Dugan of Vandalia, IL, Shannon (Elvin) Lay of Edwardsville, IL, Robert (Kristina) Garrison II of Vandalia, IL, and Toni (Pat) Cocagne of Auburn, IL. His greatest joy in life was being gifted the title of Papa to 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. His grandchildren are; Lauren (Kyle) Peterson, Abby (Mike) Fabela, Paige (Colin) Brennan, Karsyn (fiancé Mitch Pannitto) Garrison and Zoe and Jett Cocagne. His great-grandchildren are; Arthur Peterson, Layla Brennan, Michael Fabela, and Margaret Brennan.
Robert grew up with 3 siblings, one of which survives; sister Ljean Rush of Vandalia, IL. He is also survived by sisters-in-law; Joyce Garrison, Edna (Scott) Alton, Jill (Gary) Graumenz, and Alicia Arndt. Robert’s life was further enriched with many nieces, nephews, and other extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws; Carl and Violet Arndt, brothers; Ervin and Sammie (Imogene) Garrison, grandson; Kyle Dugan, brother in-law; Raymond Rush and several more in-laws.
Robert, while the youngest of his parents’ 4 children, grew up to be the tallest at 6 ‘2 ” with a shoe size of 15. He was never known to be shy, short on words, or without a joke, and Robert never met a stranger. He was a hard working man who could literally do anything. He gathered knowledge and skills from his experiences of working on the family farm, Western Auto, Barenfanger Lumber, Fire Stone Tire and his 30-year career as a laborer at Caterpillar. After enjoying retirement for a year, he returned to work at the Vandalia Park District to put his youngest, and 4th child, through college, working there for 12 years. Just to clarify, his youngest daughter didn’t take quite that long to finish her degree. All of his hard work led to him being a bionic man with 2 new hips, 1 new knee, and 1 fused wrist, along with 2 neck, 2 back, and 1 shoulder surgery, as well as other surgeries. 2007 slowed him up a bit when he was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica, but he was tough and it didn’t keep him down.
Robert passed on his knowledge and talents to his family, teaching them how to play sports, how to hunt and fish, how to build a house (like he did with his wife and children in the mid-70’s) and taught his grandchildren how to garden, dig trenches, do small construction projects, and how to respond to medical emergencies after a Papa accident. Over decades, he almost never missed a child or grandchild’s event of any sort, no matter the distance to the event. Robert was a lover of life. He enjoyed comic strips, cartoons, ice cream, diet caffeine free Pepsi and root beer-but NEVER Barq’s. He had a passion for frappes and a good baked potato. Robert loved the Boston Celtics and the St. Louis Cardinals, his grandpups, listening to old country music, going to the opry and checking the weather, crops and markets. He was a life-long learner, never too proud to ask questions or to seek more knowledge, even asking Google Home in his later years.
Above all, Robert loved his family, friends, and neighbors, having 3 namesakes to carry on his legacy, Jett Garrison Cocagne, Arthur John Tyler Peterson, and Michael Robert Fabela.
Services will be held Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Unity Baptist Church, with Pastor Robert Weaver officiating. Visitation starts at 12:00 PM and lasts until the time of service at 2:00 PM. The family requests casual attire. Burial immediately following the service at McInturff Cemetery in rural Vandalia, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Festival of Lights- Vandalia or St. Peter Sportsmans Club-Gatch Lake. Miller Funeral Home, Vandalia, IL is in charge of arrangements. Online memories and condolences may be shared with the family.
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