Joseph Robert "Bob" Aten II

Joseph Robert “Bob” Aten II

Joseph Robert “Bob” Aten II, 72, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 27, 2017.  He was born in Terre Haute on July 8, 1944 to Joseph “Robert” Aten and Zoa English Aten.

Bob is survived by his lovely and giving wife of 54 years, Sheila Nees Aten, his daughter Melissa (David) Penry and his son Rob (Kim) Aten.  He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Tanner Penry, Hannah Penry, Madison Aten, Zachary Aten, Chase Aten, Devin Valentine and Logan Valentine.  Bob is also survived by his two sisters Peggy Strobel and Marsha Houpt.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter Shelley Jo Aten, and infant son Anthony David Aten.

Bob graduated from Gerstmeyer High School in 1962 and then attended Indiana State University.  During his senior year of high school, Bob started working at McMillan Sports. After years of hard work and dedication to the community, he became one of the store’s proud owners.  He also worked as a sales representative for Kesslers Team Sports and BSN Sports. 

Bob was a very dedicated family man with a great knack at storytelling and a friend to all who knew him.  In his retirement years, Bob enjoyed watching the St. Louis Cardinals play baseball. However, the thing that put his well-known smile on his face was the joy of watching his grandchildren participate in their specific sporting event be it baseball, football, basketball or gymnastics.  If you couldn’t find Bob at a game or event, he was enjoying the outdoors while on his lawnmower.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday at DeBaun Funeral Homes Springhill Chapel. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. with Pastor Tom Barnett officiating and burial to follow in Roselawn Cemetery. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Riley Recreation League, 7200 E Gross Rd, Riley, IN 47802 or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 (www.pancan.org).