Charles Antonio Robart

Charles Antonio Robart passed away December 1, 2020 at the age of 68. He was born August 18, 1952. Known as either Chuck or Charlie and sometimes Willie, because of his resemblance to Willie Nelson, he attended West Junior High in Lansing but left high school early to go to work in the Sinclair Service Station his dad bought to “keep him out of trouble.” When his dad became ill, he worked as a bartender at Grandpa and Grandma Robart’s bar in Wayland, MI, a job he loved because he got to know new people in a small town. He then did collision repair in the Lansing area for 30 years and after that he went to work for Shroyer’s Auto pulling parts for recycling for nearly 20 years. When people would ask him when he was going to retire, he would tell them he WAS retired, he just went to work every day. The truth was he loved the family atmosphere of Shroyer’s and the people he worked with and wouldn’t have been happy if he couldn’t be riding around the yard looking for wrecks and all the good junk he could rescue (haul home).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gaylord and Edith (Cooper) Robart. Surviving are his wife, Ruby Sooy Robart; son, Chad Robart, Sr; grandson, Chad Robart, Jr; granddaughters, Shaina (Francisco) Flores and Makayla Lehman; step-daughter, Ronda-Lynn (Mark) DenBesten; step-son, Robert Clark; step-granddaughter, Morgan (Brandon) Brink; step-grandson, Shaun DenBesten; great-grandchildren, Serenity, Kash, Kalila and Harmony; step-great-grandchildren, Thea and Beau; step-brother, Larry Krawczyk; step-sisters, Linda (Michael) Cunningham and Rose Gleason; brother-in-law, Ivan Mac (Paula) Sooy; sister-in-law, Ginger (Rodney) Bish; mother, Idella Miller Krawczyk.

Besides his human family, he leaves behind several kitties who will miss him, especially little Cuda girl who loved to help him with his nightly shower and taking afternoon naps for 15 years. Among his several passions, he and his wife Ruby, loved to travel. Top of his list of favorite places were Florida, especially Ft. Myers Beach FL, the western U.S. in particular, Wisdom, MT. He collected everything including American beer steins, miniature gas pumps, lighters, watches and everything pertaining to cars and trucks. He loved, loved, loved old trucks; his beloved 1953 shortbox Chevy and the “show truck”, a 1984 C10 shorty he did the restoration on, one buddy sprayed it black and another one airbrushed flames and painted “Big Daddy” Roth’s Rat Fink mural on the tailgate. Cruising Woodward in Detroit in it was a highlight of every year at his birthday.

Well known for being fun loving, laid back, and willing to help out anyone most anytime, he had many dear friends and hundreds of friendly acquaintances, some whom he’d kept throughout his life. Nearly impossible to narrow down but special mention must be made to Dan and Linda Armbruster for their friendship and generosity for so many years; thanks to Robert LaValley for coming to his aid whenever he was called on to do so; and to James Bosheff, Mike Bullock, Jeff Kemper, and Clarence Scarbro for being wonderful, supportive friends, both before and after his illness and checking in frequently.

Thanks also to the MSU Breslin Cancer Center nurses and doctors for their compassionate care during his treatment. Special thanks to Dr. Daniel Isaac and Dr. Cameron Shumway Hematology/Oncology and Dr. Amit Bhatt in Radiology Oncology for never giving us false hope but just the hope of one more additional day. And last of all, thank you to McLaren Hospice, especially his RN, Adrianna, for the kindness shown to us in his final days that made it possible to keep him home, where he wanted to be.

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”