Robert A. Toerpe was born Feb. 2, 1933, in Chicago. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean War, during which time he met his wife, Gail Larson. After the war, Bob worked in the insurance industry for 43 years. In 1992, he and Gail bought the Washington Island Observer. After Bob retired from his insurance career in 1998, he and Gail operated the Observer together for the next 20 years.
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