Robert (Bob, RJ) Joseph Struck, 86, started Fly Fishing with the Lord at 9:44pm, Thursday, July 27, 2023.
He was born on July 28, 1936 to Susan Struck (Buchko) and Stephen Struck in Trenton, New Jersey. He attended Trenton High School before he joined the Air Force in 1953. He was trained to be a Missile Mechanic in Sampson, NY. He spent a year in Korea during the Korean Conflict. He was then stationed in Amarillo, TX.
Fate then brought him to Bunker Hill. While in the Air Force he was part of a water high diving team. During the summer of 1957 he went to Luken’s Lake and performed for the crowd. Roberta Barnhisel happened to be in the crowd. They fell in love and were married that fall on November 23, 1957 at the Bunker Hill Chapel.
They started a family. Dyanne (Rick) Fivecoate (deceased), Kim (Lester) Walden, Lynda (Jeff) Shrock, Dennis Struck, Kary (Mason) Kuhn. He has 9 grandchildren Ben (Shelby) Walden, Hunter (Taylor) Musselman, Savannah (John) Yarnelle, Colton (Lauren) Musselman, Brenlyn (Daniel) Freeman, Karasyn Kuhn, step-grand children Josh and Daniel Walden and Sam Shrock. 8 great grandchildren. Siblings are Stephen, Dolly, John, Marie, Bill, Sue, Joe, Eleanor and Irene.
Together they lived many places, which included Eglin, FL, Mcquire, NJ, Kincheloe, MI, Malmstrom, Montana. He spent 21 years in the Air Force. After retiring from the Air Force, he and Roberta purchased land and raised their family on the farm. Bob also worked for many places as a diesel mechanic. Through the years, he worked for Hartzler Trucking, Musselman Grain and Trucking, Kercher Engines, and Gaerte Engines.
He was a member of the Lincoln Masonic Lodge in Gilead and the Laketon American Legion He was part of the pit crew for Indy car driver, Tony Bettenhausen, with Provimi Veal. He also enjoyed scuba diving, woodworking, taxidermy, hunting, coin collecting and had a large collection of hats and other memorabilia. His favorite hobby was fishing, especially fly-fishing. He even tied his own flies. He could fix almost ANYTHING from a Barbie Doll to a missile.
The funeral service will take place at 10:30 am, Friday, August 4, 2023 at Hartzler Funeral Home 305 West Rochester St. in Akron, IN with Michael Barnhisel officiating.
The interment will take place following the service in the Gaerte Cemetery with graveside military honors performed.
Visitation hours will be held from 3 pm to 7 pm, Thursday, August 3, 2023 at Hartzler Funeral Home, Akron, Indiana.
Bob was honored to be a part of an Honor Flight with his daughter. Donations can be made in his memory to help others at: Honor Flight Northeast Indiana PO Box 5 Huntertown IN 46748 or the Miami County 4-H Counsel.
