Robert W. “Bob” Stricker, 92, of Emlenton, went to be with the Lord Friday morning, October 4, 2024, at UPMC Northwest in Seneca.
Robert was born in Emlenton on April 8, 1932. He was the son of the late Carl J. and Gladys A. Klingler Stricker.
He attended elementary school at Whitehall School in Emlenton and was a 1950 graduate of Emlenton High School, where he played basketball. Bob was a U.S. Army veteran and was stationed at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX and O’Misawa Air Force Base in Japan and was headed to Korea when the ceasefire came. While in the Army, Bob was in charge of a quarter-million dollar piece of equipment called an anti-aircraft 75mm sky sweeper.
In his earlier years, Bob worked for Emil Long in Emlenton and later worked for the Niemeyer Corporation in Westchester and traveled the state as a salesman for Husquavarna. He was also employed for Stens and also transported the Amish.
He was a long-time active member of New Zion E.C. Church in Emlenton. He had served as a Gideon since 1982 and was a member of Men with Vision in the 1970s. He was also active in the Venango County Prison Ministry and had served on the Board of Directors of the Zion Union Cemetery. Bob enjoyed gardening and mowing his lawn, and traveling with his wife, Eddie, during his retirement years, visiting Hawaii, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Canada, and most of the states.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Ina “Eddie” Nicholson Stricker, whom he married at Old Zion United Methodist Church on September 14, 1970. Mrs. Stricker passed away on April 30, 2022.
Bob is survived by three daughters, Gail S. Pipher and her husband, Jeff, of Parker, Terri B. Renfrew and her husband, Bob, of Emlenton, and Connie McGuirk and her husband, Terry of Parker; a son, Charles N. Busch and his special friend, Tish Tokarski, of Eau Claire; a daughter-in-law, Robyn Busch of Buffalo, NY; eleven grandchildren, Jonas Webster Pipher and his wife, Holly, Dustin W. Renfrew, Lacey Lynn Perry and her husband, Ryan, Jacob “Nick” McGuirk and his wife, Jenny, Blayne H. McGuirk, Maryellen Lowry and her husband, Ben, Elijah Nelson Busch and his wife, Anna, Abigail Marie Hartwig and her husband, Lucas, Aaron Michael Busch, Forrest Busch, and Leandra M. Harlow; 21 great-grandchildren; a sister, Nita Marie Baumgarten of Tionesta, as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Philip M. Busch, and a brother, Eugene Carl Stricker, as well as several brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home Inc., 1204 Kerr Ave., Emlenton, from 6-8 p.m. Monday and on Tuesday, October 7 & 8, 2024, from 10 a.m.–12 Noon. A funeral service will follow from the funeral home at Noon with the Rev. Lewis Bennett, Bob’s church pastor, officiating. The interment will be in Zion Union Cemetery, Emlenton. Military honors will be accorded at the funeral home at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday by members of the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard of Franklin.
Memorial contributions may be made to a Christian ministry of one’s choice. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.
My condolences to all of Eddie and Bob’s family members.
Bob was a great man. He always wanted me to buy into various sales offers. He always knew where I stood but he always tried like any great salesman would do.
May God give you the strength to get through this difficult time.
He is at peace and with the love of his life!