Robert Nixon, 82, who fought in France, Belgium and Germany during World War II before he was taken prisoner by the Nazis, died of complications from a stroke in Hines VA Hospital Wednesday, Feb. 27. Born and raised in Chicago, Mr. Nixon became a decorated war hero after he joined the Army at the outset of World War II. After landing at Normandy just after D-Day, his division was involved in heavy fighting throughout the campaign, said his nephew Philip LaMonica. During the fighting, Mr. Nixon earned four Bronze Stars and two Oak Leaf Clusters. He was respected as a leader and received a battlefield commission from master sergeant to second lieutenant. In February 1945, Mr. Nixon was taken prisoner. Initially, he was listed as missing in action, and it was three months before his family learned he was alive. In June 1945 they received a telegram from the Army saying that he would be coming home. Mr. Nixon returned to Chicago with two more decorations, the POW Medal and the Cross of Lorraine. He took a supply job with the Army quartermaster in Chicago. It was there that he met Rose LaMonica, whom he married in 1953. After leaving the quartermaster’s office, he took an accounting job with Dean Foods, where he worked for the rest of his career. Survivors include a brother, Donald. Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 9 p.m. in Ryan-Parke Funeral Home, 120 S. Northwest Highway, Park Ridge. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the funeral home.
