Robert Stanley "Bob" Russler

Robert Stanley “Bob” Russler, 83, of rural Evansville, passed away peacefully at his home after a long illness on Monday, June 26, 2023. Bob was born September 14, 1939 in Evansville, the fourth of eight children to the late Roman V. and Marie G. (Hansert) Russler. He attended Sacred Heart Grade School and was an altar server at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In 1958, Bob graduated from Mater Dei High School, where he was a member of the football team. Bob worked as a railroad fireman and locomotive engineer with the L & N Railroad, later known as the Seaboard System Railroad, then later CSX Transportation. He retired in 1999 after 39 years of service. From 1963 to 1965, Bob served on active duty in the United States Army, 24th Engineer Battalion, Fourth Armored Division during the Berlin Crisis. Earning the rank of Sergeant E-5, he was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany, where he supervised the construction of temporary bridges over the Rhine River with the Combat Engineers Group. Bob was honorably discharged in 1965. Bob was a long-time resident of Evansville’s west side and experienced many happy years of hunting and fishing with family and friends. He had a passion for the outdoors and took pride in his yard and garden. Bob loved watching wildlife in his backyard and maintained bird houses and feeders. He had a few dogs and cats over the years, which brought him great joy. Bob also enjoyed watching old western television shows and a cold glass of beer. He looked forward to many vacations to Destin, Florida where he loved swimming in the ocean and deep-sea fishing. He belonged to Holy Trinity Catholic Church for 30 years and was currently a member of St. Boniface Catholic Parish. Bob was a member of American Legion Funkhouser Post 8, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees, and the Mater Dei Friends and Alumni Association. Surviving Bob are his wife of 57 years, Mary Lue Neale Russler; brothers, Charles (Dolores) Russler, William Russler and James (Mary Lynn) Russler; sisters, Carol Russler and Mae Russler, all of Evansville; sisters-in-law, Betty Plump, Rosie Neale and Nancy Neale; brothers-in-law, Ron Neale, Jim Neale and Larry Neale, all of Evansville and Bob (Kay) Neale of Fenton, Missouri; nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, friends and neighbors. In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by sisters, Marylou Russler Ulrich and Frances Russler Lively; nephews, David Ulrich and Adam Neale; sisters-in-law, Merrie Jane Russler and Mary Ingram Neale; brothers-in-law, James Ulrich, Clovis “Toby” Lively, Daniel D. Neale and Richard Plump. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, 418 N. Wabash Avenue, Rev. Lowell Will officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, where the Vanderburgh County Retired Veterans Memorial Club will conduct military rites. Friends may visit with the family from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street, where there will be a memorial service held at 6:00 p.m. Special thanks go to DaVita Eagles Dialysis, Deaconess Midtown Hospital, Deaconess Home Care and Heritage Hospice, for all of their kind and compassionate care. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Boniface Catholic Parish, 1626 Glendale Avenue, Evansville, IN 47712; Mater Dei High School, Bob and Mary Lue Russler Tuition Assistance Endowment Fund, 1300 Harmony Way, Evansville, IN 47720; University of Southern Indiana Foundation, Bob and Mary Lue Russler Scholarship Fund, 8600 University Boulevard, Evansville, IN 47712; or to the Sisters of St. Benedict, 802 E. 10th Street, Ferdinand, IN 47532. Condolences may be made online at www.pierrefuneralhome.com.

Robert Stanley "Bob" Russler

September 14, 1939 - June 26, 2023