Obituary of Robert Irwin
Robert L. Irwin, Sr.
Our father, Bob Irwin, passed from this world on Friday, January 9, 2015 at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, and into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was born in Gruver, Iowa on February 15, 1918 to the late John Calvin (J.C.) and Gertrude (nee Green) Irwin. On November 20, 1941 he married his sweetheart, Edith Bertino.
To Bob and Edith were born five beautiful children: Mary Lou (Bob) Gehrke of Pocatello, Idaho, Bobbi (Jim) Futterer of Loveland, CO, Margie (John) Mostyn of Lockport, Illinois, Skip (Sandi) Irwin of Essex, Illinois and Trudy (Bob) Wille of Steger, Illinois.
To his children and their spouses were born his grandchildren: Marie (Tony) Getsug of Clarksville, Maryland, Julie Gehrke of Nampa, Idaho; Karen (Chuck) Dickerson of Pocatello, Idaho; Mollie (Jon) Stromberg of Chicago, Illinois; Jay (Andrea) Mostyn of Springfield, Missouri; Mandy Irwin of Irving, Texas; Dawn Irwin of Broadhead, WI; Nicole Irwin of Plainfield, Illinois; Katrina Kryzaniak of Tampa, FL and Candice Kryzaniak of Essex, Illinois; Dave (Windy) Douma of Belvidere, Tennessee; and Dan (Desirae) Douma of Homewood, Illinois.
To his grandchildren were born his adorable great-grandchildren: Kane and Bodhi Getsug; Gabriel, Mariah and Lucas Dickerson; Charlotte, Jon and William Stromberg; Jack and Kylie Mostyn; Ashton and Bryce Douma; Emily Douma and Brenden and Zachary Smith.
Bob always said that he wanted to be remembered for caring for his fellow man (and woman). Because of his caring nature, he was very active in and past President of the following organizations: the Civilian Welfare Club at Joliet Arsenal and NFFE Union, the Plainfield Athletic Club, the Old Timers Baseball Association, the Associated Clubs of Will County and the Rotary Club of Plainfield.
He was recipient of the Richard Ira Jones Memorial Award (1992), Rotary's Cedric Pope Award (1999), Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver, Vigil Member Order of Arrow and the Old Timer's Baseball Award (1979). Member of the Society of Quality Control, Non-Destructive Testing, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge, Mason (since 1943) and the Knights of Columbus.
Bob, along with his wife, taught Red Cross First Aid for 27 years. They square danced for many years, once even appearing on the Pee Wee King television show! Bob played semi-pro baseball in the Joliet League 1939 with the Moran Athletic Club, Troy Merchants, Joliet Arsenal and the Will County Farm Bureau teams. He worked with BSA for 42 years, attending many award banquets. He helped start the Plainfield Athletic League (PAL) in 1952 and had a PAL baseball field named for him. He was an avid hunter, enjoyed horseshoe pitching, was a rock hound and became interested in Numismatist when he started sorting coins as therapy after eye surgery.
He was known as "the candy man", giving Werther's candies to friends and family he met at various events and places and to the staff at OLA. This always brought a smile to the faces of the recipients and a sweetness to their palates!! For the last several years, Bob resided at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home (OLA). Among the many things he enjoyed at OLA was planting geraniums and moss roses each spring in the front planter. Those who visited him often got to see the beautiful flowers and have Bob show them the variety of colors that emerged as he planted seeds from the previous year's flowers. Another enjoyment of Bob's was playing cards with different friends at OLA. Watching Lawrence Welk, virtual bowling, playing bingo, singing and dancing to old time songs, attending daily mass and praying the rosary with friends were activities that made his life enjoyable, that filled his spirit.
In addition to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, he is survived by one sister, Gen (Irwin) Spreitzer of Georgetown, TX; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Marianne (Jim) Crater of Crest Hill; Gerri Bertino, and Raymond (Dolores) Bertino, all of Joliet; Lawrence (Ruth) Bertino of Laguna Hills, CA. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Edith (2003); his parents; one brother, Bill Irwin; sisters-in-law, Janet Irwin, Betty Kren, Lee Bertino, Ann Bertino and Beverly Bertino; brothers-in-law, George Bertino, Robert Bertino, LaVern Kren, Thomas Bertino, Joseph Bertino and Russell Spreitzer.
Funeral Services for Robert L. Irwin, Sr. will be Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, 1201 Wyoming Avenue, Joliet, where visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., with Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will be in Resurrection Mausoleum. Donations in memory of Bob may be made to any of the following: Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, 1201 Wyoming, Joliet, IL 60435, Rotary International District 6450, Inc., 401 William St., PO Box 5290, River Forest, IL 60305-5290, or St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 129 South Division St., Plainfield, IL 60544. Visitation Friday, 3-7 p.m. at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Roads, Joliet. For information: 815-741-5500
