Sept. 23, 1920 - Aug. 4, 2008
Robert L. Shenk, 87, of Delphos, died at 7:55 p.m. Monday at Vancrest Assisted Living.
He was born Sept. 23, 1920, in Delphos, to Alex and Gertrude (Lindemann) Shenk.
He married Marjorie Herring, who preceded him in death on March 21, 1976. He then married Florence Saum on Aug. 16, 1979. She survives in Delphos.
Other survivors include five daughters, Elizabeth Shenk of Delphos, Judith (Hugo) Maurer of Seattle, Wash., Catherine Shenk of Anchorage, Ala., Janet (Ron) Laird of Wellsville, Pa., and Linda (Anthony) Pauken of Maumee; a brother, Eugene Shenk of Penn Yan, N.J.; and five grandchildren, Kurt and Grant Laird, Olivia and Anna Pauken and Mikaya Monetatchi.
He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Gerald and John Shenk; and a sister, Mary Satterhwaite.
Mr. Shenk had been owner of Shenk’s, which was opened by his grandfather in 1876. He entered the business in 1945 and retired in 1999.
He was a St. John’s High School graduate and a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, where he was an usher and greeter for many years. He was a fourth-degree member of the Delphos Knights of Columbus, member of the Delphos Eagles and a charter member of the Delphos Jaycees.
He had been president of St. John’s Band Boosters, the Delphos Club and first Optimist Club. He served as grand marshal of the Canal Days Parade, was past chairman of the Red Feather (Community Chest) Drive to support Delphos entities.
In 1953 as president of the Chamber of Commerce, he organized the first major fundraising drive called “Campaign 5000,” which has evolved into its present fundraiser.
He was a trustee of the Retail Division of the Ohio Council of Merchants, one of the 100 Best Friends of the Canal Commission, member of St. Rita’s Mercy Club and was involved in many other activities to benefit the schools, his church and the community.
He liked to dance, travel, play euchre, read and watch sports on TV. His first major hobby was doing family research and history.
Mass of Christian burial will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, the Rev. Melvin Verhoff officiating. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery.
Memorial visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home, where a Knights of Columbus service will begin at 7 p.m. and a parish wake will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Preferred memorials are to Sisters of Notre Dame or St. John’s Teachers Retirement Foundation.