Robert Hunsaker

Robert (Bob) Hunsaker
Gainesville - Robert (Bob) Hunsaker, of Gainesville, Fla., died suddenly in his home on May 5, 2020. He was 87 years old. He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Helen Liu, his older son, Robert (Duke) Hunsaker, and his stepdaughter, Carman Chan, his seven grandchildren – Forest Rapczak, Emily and Parke Hunsaker, Jonathan Minor, Annika, Owen and Kyle Enersen, and two great-grandchildren, Orion and Aurora Rapczak. He was preceded in death by his son, Parke Hunsaker, and his ex-wife, Donna Forest.
Bob was born in Kirksville, Mo., in 1932 to Gale Cater Hunsaker and Emily Elisabeth MacDougall. He attended Central Methodist College and was drafted the end of his junior year. He received Military Police training and served in Army posts in Texas. After receiving an early honorable discharge, Bob returned to Central Methodist and graduated with a degree in Business Administration.
Bob was hired by McDonnell Aircraft Engineering Management as a Department Administrator for Liaison Engineering, Photography and the Engineering Library. His computer software designs played an integral part in several NASA projects, including the Gemini and Mercury programs. He designed some of the first computer programs to use the "keyword" concept, presented at an IBM seminar. Bob retired from McDonnell Douglas in 1973.
Along with his first wife, Donna, and his sons, Duke and Parke, he moved to Gainesville to open a franchise of the Taylor Rental Centers. Later he incorporated as Hunsaker Enterprises, Inc., and went independent with his rental store, Rental Mart/Party Headquarters.
Subsequently, with his second wife, Helen Liu, in charge of the Party Rental Division of Rental Mart, the company specialized in tents for weddings and special occasions for nearly 3 decades. In 2000, Bob sold the store and accompanying assets and retired.
In the years following his retirement, Bob enjoyed traveling, golf, detailing his car and carpentry. He was a perfectionist; everything he did, he did well. There was nothing he could not fix. He would always lend a hand if it was needed.
A celebration of Bob's life will be held on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at 10 am in The Chapel at Trinity Methodist Church, 4000 NW 53rd Ave., Gainesville, Florida 32653. Please register if you are planning to attend in person. Wearing of masks and social distancing will be required. https://trinitygnv.org/funerals or call the church: 352-416-3005 or 352-376-6615. The service will also be live streamed on the church's YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/Fr5JUWeDgTQ
In lieu of flowers please donate to Trinity United Methodist Church of Gainesville.