Robert D. Smith

Robert D. (Bob) Smith of LaPorte, Indiana passed away Wednesday, January 27, 2016. 

Born in Mill Creek, Indiana on May 10, 1931 to Mary Marie (Rensberger) and William Jay Smith.

Bob lived most of his life in the Millcreek-LaPorte area except for a short period of time in Mount Prospect, Illinois and Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Bob graduated from Mill Creek High School in May 1948 and was a proud member of the 1947-1948 Mill Creek High School Baseball and Basketball teams who won the LaPorte County championships for the first time in school history.

Bob retired from Berkel Incorporated (A.K.A., U.S. Slicing Machine Company) after 38 years of service and served in the capacities of National Sale Manager, National Accounts Manager and other accounting and sales positions.  He was also employed by Clark Equipment Company (Brown Trailer Division), Michigan City, Indiana for six years in sales and marketing positions.

Bob served in the United States Air Force for four years in a B-29 Squadron as the Squadron Supply Sergeant during the Korean War (1950-1954) at various air bases in the USA and overseas in Germany, England, and Turkey.  He received an honorable discharge with the rank of Staff Sergeant and was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Occupation (Germany) Medal.

On October 9, 1954 in Muehldorf Am Inn (Bavaria), Germany, Bob married Waltraud (Trudy) Bathen.   Surviving with his wife Waltraud (Trudy) Smith, are several nieces and nephews in the USA and a niece in Germany.  He was preceded in death by his mother and father and three brothers, Donald W. “Doc” Smith, Claude D. “Trapper” Smith, and Roy V. Smith, and his sister, Evelyn M. Johnson.

Bob was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church in LaPorte and the Knights of Columbus, St. Michael Council 1542 in LaPorte.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1p.m. Monday, February 1, 2016 at St. Peter Catholic Church with burial to follow in Westlawn Cemetery, North Liberty, Indiana. Family and friends may visit from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, ESSLING CHAPEL, 1117 Indiana Avenue, LaPorte, Indiana. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the LaPorte Hospital Foundation; St. Peter Catholic Church; or the Independent Cat Society in Westville, Indiana.   

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