Bob Struble

Throughout his life, Bob lived each day as a family man, and one never needed to wonder where they stood with him as he was a completely black and white kind of guy. Bob had strong values and worked hard to provide for his family. He provided a positive example for all who knew him. Known for his spirit of generosity and selfless acts of service, he spent the majority of his life serving within his community. His impact on our lives will long be remembered.

Bob was born on March 26th, 1931, to Rob and Louise Struble in Kalamazoo. Rob was a dairy farmer, and Louise was a school teacher. Bob experienced an upbringing that was reflective of his generation. Raised in Galesburg on the family dairy farm, he enjoyed hunting, playing baseball and helping on the farm. He attended boarding school at Leelanau (near Traverse City) and graduated from University High in Kalamazoo in the late forties.

After graduating from high school, Bob headed to Texas for a year where he raced cars on a short dirt track. He then enlisted in the National Guard as a young man and was called to duty in the Air Force. Bob was stationed in Roswell, New Mexico, where he worked in a weather station for two years. This was a great fit for him as he was a more reserved and quiet person by nature.

On his first furlough, Bob returned to Galesburg to marry Joanne Brown on August 28, 1951. They spent the next two years in New Mexico. Then they returned to Michigan and made their home in Kalamazoo. During this time Bob enrolled at Western Michigan University on the GI Bill and also began working part time as a police officer for the City of Kalamazoo. Together they were blessed with two children, Kim in 1953 and Greg in 1957.

Bob ultimately joined the police force full time, serving the community for 37 years. Toward the end of his career, the assignment that gave him the most satisfaction was working on the newly evolving information technology. In his spare time, Bob was an avid ham radio operator and loved electronics. Because of this, he became directly involved with bringing the department into the computer age. After retiring as a police officer, the city hired him as a civilian to carry on the programming work he had begun as a policeman for an additional five years. He then officially retired in 1997.

Always one to be busy, Bob participated in a local ham radio club and coordinated civil defense communications. He also enjoyed computers, shooting, photography, and playing billiards and cards. He was very handy and meticulous, and all his tools and equipment were well organized. Bob was a perfectionist with his yard and enjoyed planting and maintaining the landscape. Hunting was always a priority in the fall for Bob. For several years during his younger days Bob hunted at the family hunting camp in northern Michigan. He was never one to watch television unless it was the news, and until he lost his eyesight he was an avid reader whose reading material included things on electronics and history, a good mystery or adventure. Bob enjoyed traveling to see his family as they moved between South Dakota, Montana and Nevada.

Although he was deeply saddened with Joanne’s death, Bob was blessed to find love again with her long time best friend, Rose. They were married on July 31, 1999, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Bob and Rose enjoyed taking many trips together. They ventured further and traveled to parts of Canada, Europe, and sailed on several cruises. In his later years, as his mobility declined, Bob and Rose continued to travel on frequent bus trips, just a little closer to home and often to the casinos. Together they attended St. Mary's and spent time surrounded by a community of close friends in faith.

Thoughtful, loyal, and organized are just a few of the words that come to mind when reflecting on the life of Robert Struble. He was also kindhearted, generous, and completely devoted to the ones he loved. With a strong work ethic, Bob always gave everything he was doing his best, and as a perfectionist one could always count on anything he did being done right. He will be deeply missed.

Robert Struble died April 22, 2014, in Kalamazoo. Bob’s family includes his second wife, Rose (Vogelheim) Struble; son, Greg (Linda) Struble; son-in-law, Harry Underdah; 4 grandchildren: Sarah Struble, Heather (Seth) Miller, Alyssa (Larry) Nistler and Olivia Underdah; 2 step-daughters: Jane (Greg) LaMaster and Karen (Mark) Peper; 6 step-grandchildren: Chris (Sheila), Mike, Joe, Andy, Nick and Ashley and 3 great-grandchildren: Matthew, Cecilia, and Michael. Bob was preceded in death by his first wife, Joanne Struble in 1995 and by his daughter, Kim Underdah in 2011.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with a time to visit with the family starting at 10:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow the mass in Fr. Bart Hall. Cremation has taken place and private interment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg. Please visit Bob’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign his online guestbook. Memorial donations may be made to Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes or Braille and Talking Book Library. Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive; 375-2900