Robert Charles Weikel

Robert C. Weikel, 99, passed away peacefully at home on February 28, 2026, with loved ones by his side. He was born in Cleveland, OH, on April 16, 1926, to the late Daniel I. and Ethel M. Weikel, and the family moved to Fort Wayne shortly thereafter. His boyhood years were spent in the house his father built on Pemberton Drive, often hunting in the nearby woods, now the site of Parkview Hospital on Randallia. He attended Northside High School where he met the love of his life, M. Sue Pressler. Their courtship was interrupted when, having enlisted in the Army in December 1943 at the age of 17, he was activated for service in 1945. Bob served in the US Army Air Corps, trained as a waist gunner in a B24 “Liberator” bomber, and deployed to Clark Field in the Philippines. After VJ Day, he was part of the first occupation force to enter Japan, where he served the remainder of his overseas tour in Tachikawa. When WWII came to a close, Bob came home during his 60-day reenlistment to finish his senior year of high school and propose to Sue. He completed his service to his country as a Sargent in 1948, and he and Sue were married on his birthday, April 16, 1949. At that time, he joined her in membership of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

Bob graduated from Indiana Tech with a degree in civil engineering, and began working for the Weikel Construction Company, specializing in cross-country telephone cables and underground conduit. The family joke was that Bob knew every water treatment plant in Indiana, southern Michigan, and parts of Kentucky. His expertise led him to the position of Vice President at Indiana Construction, and expanded the geography of his work to include Australia, where he and Sue lived for almost a year. Bob was a Freemason and Mizpah Shriner for over 70 years and instrumental in the creation of its Khyber Rifles unit. After retirement, Bob enjoyed rugged fishing trips to Alaska and Canada, and woodworking, creating incredible figural carvings, scroll saw work (including a 3’ tall cathedral clock) and intarsia artwork that he gifted to family and friends. But his most passionate role came as the primary caregiver of Sue for over five years during her battle with cancer. She passed away in the comfort of her home, in the arms of her loving husband, in 1999.

Bob and Sue always said they had four children, two biologically and two by marriage: David (MaryAnn) Weikel of Harlan and Diana (Cal) Kuebler of Leo. He also was immensely proud of his three granddaughters: Christina (Mark) Sapusek of High Point, NC; Col. (Dr.) Laura (Tony) Baugh of Manitou Springs, CO; and Katherine (Aaron) DeMeritt of Cypress, TX. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Weston and Suzi Sapusek; Donald Baugh; Leah, Anna, Luke and Adam DeMeritt. In addition to his parents and wife, Bob was preceded in death by his three siblings: Kenneth Weikel of Ossian; Elaine Stone of Denver, CO; and Donald Weikel of Fort Wayne.

A time of visitation and sharing of memories with the family will be held on Sunday, April 19, from 3-6pm at D.O. McComb & Sons Maplewood Park, 4017 Maplecrest Road. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, friends present memorials to their favorite charity.