Robert "Bob" Scherer

CIRCLEVILLE — Robert "Bob" Scherer, 88, of Circleville, passed away Friday, April 7, 2017 at Berger Hospital, surrounded by his family.

Bob was born on Jan. 27, 1929 in Ironton, Ohio to Albert and Lois Scherer. From his earliest days, he actively worked the family farm and dairy operation, including driving a daily delivery truck through the hills of southern Ohio at the age of 12.

He attended Green Township High School in Scioto County, and went on to graduate from the Ohio State University in 1951 with a degree in agricultural science. At Ohio State, he met and later married his wife Margaret "Peggy" Scherer, with whom he shared the remaining years of his life, until her death last year.

Scherer was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps in 1951, served on active duty for three years, and then continued his service in the USMC Reserve for the next three decades, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. After leaving active military duty, he began a long professional career during which he became a local, state, and national leader in the agribusiness industry.

Scherer first advanced through the ranks of the Landmark Cooperative System and became its Chief Executive Officer in 1980. He later led Landmark through a major corporate merger to form CountryMark, Inc., and then accepted a position in Washington, D.C. as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Cooperative Business Association. Under his leadership, NCBA became an influential trade association for cooperative businesses all over the nation and the world, and a primary facilitator of US AID contracts, supervising and managing agricultural innovation projects in many developing nations.

Throughout his life, Scherer has been a notably strong advocate for the Ohio State University and its College of Agricultural Sciences, serving on numerous boards, committees, and task forces aimed at a wide array of developmental and fund-raising goals.

Among many other honors and distinctions, he has received the Ohio State Distinguished Agricultural Alumni Award, the National Cooperatives Statesman Award, the Central Ohio Executive of the Year Award, and the USMCR Distinguished Service Medal. In 2000, he was inducted into the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Aside from their five years in Washington, Scherer and his family have been residents of Circleville for the past 51 years. He has been an active contributor to the community in numerous capacities, as a farm owner and conservationist, consultant and mentor to many groups and individuals, active member of Community United Methodist Church, and as the leading force in the creation and growth of the Deer Creek Chapter of Pheasants Forever.

Bob is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Margaret (Peggy) Scherer; his parents, Albert and Lois Scherer; and his grandson, Benjamin Leahy Scherer.

He is survived by his sons, Gary (Debbie) and Tom (Julie) Scherer of Circleville, and Mark (Lisa) of Omaha, Neb.; grandchildren, Christopher (Tammy) Scherer, Elizabeth (Luke) Stevenson, Abigail Scherer, Eric (Jillian) Scherer, Philip (Jessica Graeve) Scherer, Michael Scherer, Jennifer (Cody) Griffin, and Rebecca (Camron) Taylor; great-grandchildren, Caden, Ryan, Libby, Maddy, Cole, Breanna, Mackenzie, Skylar, Noah, Fynlee, and Penelope.

The family will welcome visitors at Wellman Funeral Home, Circleville, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Monday, April 10. Funeral services will be held at Community United Methodist Church in Circleville at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11, with a luncheon to follow.

At their discretion, friends are encouraged to make memorial contributions to Community United Methodist Church, or the Margaret and Robert Scherer Family Scholarship Fund # 646377 at The Ohio State University Foundation, 1480 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH 43221, or any charity of their choosing.

Online condolences can be made to www.wellmanfuneralhomes.com.