Robert C. Folkert

January 8, 1934 - May 10, 2021

Robert Clare Folkert, age 87 of Clare passed away Monday, May 10, 2021 at MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland. Bob was born the son of the late Glenn and Lois (Rainey) Folkert on January 8, 1934 in Cass City, Michigan. He grew up in Bay City attending grade school and Bay City Central High School. His college years were spent at NYU in Manhattan and Western Michigan College. He went on to open and purchase Mill End Stores. Bob got a childhood start in retail in his father’s Mill End Store in downtown Bay City by opening and managing his own small candy counter. His father gave him a loan to purchase his inventory, teaching him merchandising, pricing, and simple bookkeeping. While on business in Chicago Bob met a vivacious immigrant girl from Ireland with a resemblance to Elizabeth Taylor, Johanna Ryan. They married, had two girls and moved to Clare in 1963 where he opened his own Mill End Store on the corner of 4th Street and McEwan in the former Davy’s Department Store location. In boyhood his favorite department became hardware, which occupied the basement of the Bay City Store. At that time the store sold only salvage merchandise. It could be menswear, women’s wear, household goods of all kinds. Honestly, you never knew what you’d find at Mill End. The tag line was, “World’s Most Unusual Store.” And it was really. Bob was an unassuming guy. There are not a lot of photos or fanfare about his life. Officers would come to the house after local families suffered home fires. He’d open the store after hours and set them up with what he could: boots, coats, jeans, shirts, or whatever would help. Bob served his country in the US Army. No one knew until it was declassified in the 1990’s that he served under Greenbrier, West Virginia, which was the nuclear bunker for the U.S. Congress and staff in times of emergency. Bob spent his time with his kids hunting, golfing, fishing and camping. He was a lifelong skier and an avid contra and square dancer. He loved Wheatland and attended religiously. His children loved doing it all with him. He hated to cook but enjoyed going to Meijer because they’re good retailers. He will be deeply missed by his family. Bob is survived by his three daughters, Rainey Folkert, Dierdre Folkert, and Jacklyn Folkert and his sister Geraldine Prieskorn of Cass City, Michigan. Cremation will take place per his wishes. Memorial contributions suggested to the Clare County Animal Shelter or Healthsource of Saginaw. Arrangements were handled by the Clare Chapel of Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home. On-line guestbook at www.stephenson-wyman.com