Robert Trexler Ives, Jr. September 28, 1931 – May 13, 2023
Robert Trexler (Bob) Ives, Jr. passed away on May 13, 2023, at Life Care Center in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Bob was born in Clarks Green, Pennsylvania and grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Penn State with a degree in Economics. Bob served in the U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Division. After service in the Army, he began a career in the steel industry, rising through executive positions with US Steel in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania and Gary, Indiana. From 1985 until his retirement, he taught industrial management courses at Purdue’s Calumet campus.
Bob married his beloved wife Ruth (Minkel) in Scranton in 1954. They raised three children in Ellwood City and Valparaiso. He was preceded in death by Ruth and his son Bruce A. Ives. He is survived by his daughter Karen Ann Williams (husband Jeff Williams) of Naperville, Illinois and Robert W. Ives (wife Ellen Sielaff Ives) of Vancouver, Washington. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in Valparaiso at the Valparaiso First Methodist Church on June 14 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Bob’s memory to the American Heart Association (heart.org), or to the charity 5 for Smiles (5forsmiles.com). Five for Smiles provides gifts to children in hospitals. The family wishes to thank LifeCare Center of Valparaiso and Dunes Hospice for attentive care for Bob, and support for the family, in his final days.
