COLUMBIA CITY – Robert Lewis Tucker, 71, of rural Churubusco, died July 8, 2012, in Fort Wayne.
He was born to Paul and Helen Tucker. In December 1962, he married the love of his life, Nancy Buesching, whom he met in Fort Wayne. She preceded him in death.
Growing up in the blue ridge mountains, young hillbilly Bob enjoyed fishing for rainbow trout, picking up arrowheads behind Harvey’s plow, singing in the church choir, playing the trombone, battling the occasional rattler and filling his lunch box with rocks to save himself from the school bully.
With his parents and brother, the family moved around to follow his father’s job. He attended 10 elementary schools, six junior highs and four high schools, graduating from Lockport (Ill.) High School. He continued hitchhiking through life with his Elvis sideburns and guitar and putting himself through various midwestern colleges, graduating from the University of Evansville.
He and his wife were blessed with two spunky children whom he spoiled rotten with amazing homemade Halloween costumes, hiking in state parks, beach stays, amazing tinking trips and fabulous international vacations.
Besides being a super dad, he was known to perform many heroic deeds. He once burst through a screened door to save a shrieking damsel in distress who was being held on the ground and tortured by a deviant (who later turned out to be her tickling husband). He battled three sharks, a chain saw, a barracuda and a vicious mule. He also rescued his daughters from a bear attack (which later turned out to be a squirrel).
After a brief stop in Evansville working for Marsh McLennan, they settled in Noblesville where he continued insurance sales with The Pillar Group, Indianapolis. He developed several new types of insurance coverage during his career and is still known as the “most honest insurance man in Indianapolis.” In 1992, they moved to rural Thorntown where he began a new passion. He joined Lebanon Rotary Club where he enjoyed singing and playing his guitar, working at the track, serving as president and visiting clubs around the world.
However, his real passion was being grandpa to Zachary, Cassie and Emily Jones and Cherrish and Nathaniel Leitheim. He entertained them with limitless games of crow trap, Nintendo, pool flushing, singing and tinking. He moved to rural Churubusco in 2010 to be closer to his grandkids. He joined the Churubusco Rotary to continue his “service above self” dedication.
Surviving are two children: Rhonda (and spouse Todd) Jones, rural Pierceton, and René (and spouse Joseph) Leitheim, Hamilton.
In accordance with his wishes, no services will be held. ***** To honor his memory and love of music alongside his wife’s love of nursing, memorials may be made to the Tucker-Buesching Scholarship, which will provide scholarships to local music and nursing students. Donations may be sent c/o Whitley County Community Foundation, 400 N. Whitley St., Columbia City, IN 46725.
DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, Columbia City, is in charge of arrangements.
