Robert Lynn Ropp

Born on November 17, 1935, in the middle of the Great Depression, Robert Ropp (known to his family and friends as “Bob”) spent his earliest years in Fort Wayne, Indiana, until at the age of ten he and his family moved to a small farm in Whitley County. Not long after graduating from Jefferson Center High School in 1953, Bob began working at the Pennsylvania Railroad and continued there through a couple of mergers (Penn Central and Conrail) until the railroad closed their Fort Wayne office on Baker Street and Bob chose to take severance rather than relocate his family. After several self-employment ventures, he retired in 1997 but later rejoined the workforce, driving a van for Renzenberger to transport railroad crews from one location to another, and retired again in December of 2015.

Though a faithful employee (he rarely missed a day of work), he was not a workaholic. He enjoyed talking, playing, laughing with his immediate and extended family and friends. He served as church treasurer at First Christian Union Church in Fort Wayne for many years and also played position of pitcher for their softball team.

On April 20, after a long, full life of more than 80 years, Bob peacefully stepped into eternity.

Surviving family members include his beloved wife, Nancy; four children: Diana (Jim) Boyer, R. Neil (Lisa) Ropp, Joan (Doug) Short, and Natalie (Kevin) Frauhiger; ten grandchildren: Ryan (Lisa) Boyer, Dannon (Ashley) Boyer, Holly (Israel) Ojeda, Curtis Ropp, Tracey Ropp, Julie (Greg) Ramer, Lindsay (Adam) Wojnarowski, Andi (Layton) Dorsett, Brittany (Brock) Taulbee, and Brooke Frauhiger; fourteen great-grandchildren; a sister, Jean Ferrell; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cleo and Doris Ropp, and a brother, Richard “Dick” Ropp.

Visitation is scheduled for Monday, April 25, at the Shoaff Park Baptist Church (6651 St. Joe Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana) for an hour (beginning at 10:00am) before the “celebration of life” memorial service at 11:00am. A private viewing and private burial for immediate family only will follow the service. Preferred memorials are to Shoaff Park Baptist Church building fund.