Robert W. Serr

Robert (Bob) W. Serr, 91, of Carmel, Indiana, passed away after a brief illness on May 29, 2025, surrounded by his devoted wife and children. A committed husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, he lived a long life full of love and laughter. His deep commitment to family and strong work ethic were well known to all.

Born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska (1934), Bob grew up a true Cornhusker. While attending the University of Nebraska (Lincoln, Class of 1956), enjoying his time in Delta Tau Delta fraternity and rooting on his favorite school teams, he met Cathy, his one love and partner in life for just shy of 70 years. With a career in retail, they set out together on an almost 20-year journey that would take them across much of the Midwest before settling down, with their five children, in Carmel in 1973. Over 50 years later, the home they built there is still filled with a lifetime of happy memories and sports memorabilia. Forever a Cornhusker and a Hoosier, Bob could often be heard whistling There’s No Place Like Nebraska and Back Home Again in Indiana, as he was finally back in the place where he’d spent several of his childhood years.

Whether heard humming a Frank Sinatra oldie or cheering on any number of sports teams which also included his beloved St. Louis Cardinals, Bob really appreciated the simple things in life. Known to deliver a wide range of dad jokes at every family gathering, to enjoy a cold beer and cookout on a warm day, and to roll up his sleeves for a game of gin rummy, bridge, cribbage or dominos, he loved nothing more than sharing these moments with his family and friends. Famously competitive, he was never more content than sinking a winning putt, getting the eight ball in the corner pocket, or laying down a winning hand in poker with a satisfied smile.

In quieter moments, Bob could often be found devouring the latest detective novel or Netflix drama, keeping up with current events, his Word of the Day habit and tackling a Suduko puzzle to keep his mind incredibly sharp. Having moved and explored so much in his younger years, travel was not his favorite activity, but he loved poring over a good ‘ole roadmap to track where each of his kids or grandkids were, all from his beloved Lazy Boy.

Bob is survived by his wife, Catherine Hodder Serr; his children: Robert W. Serr, Jr. (Dawn), Sarah C. Serr, Susan Beebe (David), and Anne E. Serr; and his brother, Cullen Serr. He was preceded in death by his son, Steven W. Serr. He found tremendous joy sharing in the lives of his 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, who had the privilege of seeing how he chose to live his life focused on putting family first, laughing often and knowing the value of honest work.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, Bob would love nothing more than for those he knew and cared for to take a moment to be fully present with someone they love—sharing a story, playing a game together, going for a walk, as these simple moments are the gifts that endure.