Robert Botts

Robert Eugene Botts, a devoted family man, passed away peacefully with his loved ones by his side on Monday July 29,2024, at the age of 82. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great grandfather and friend. Born June 8,1942, in Miami, OK to Willie Daniel Botts and Opal Dee (Schoenhals) Botts, he grew up in Oklahoma on Route 66. He loved visiting family in Oklahoma, every year if possible, and his family has cherished memories of those times going to family reunions and visiting Buffalo Ranch, Woolaroc and Will Rogers Museum, among other sites along Route 66. He married his high school sweetheart Jeanne Botts on St. Patrick's Day in 1961. Together they have 4 children, 13 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. He started work at an early age to help his family. Then, to provide a good life for his own family with Jeanne, he accepted a supervisor position at Phelps Dodge, Magnet Wire in Fort Wayne, Indiana and spent 27 years there. He also worked at Essex Group and for a vendor at Steel Dynamics before permanently retiring. He passed his strong work ethic onto his children. In addition to work, Bob coached his sons' baseball teams for years, spent time with the family on bowling leagues at Brunswick, and his family spent many happy years camping in the summer and sledding and snowmobiling in the winter. After retiring, Bob and Jeanne moved to a farm in Monroeville where they kept a huge garden with many fruit trees. They spent many hours in the garden and then canning and freezing what they grew, to share with their family and friends. Grandkids spent many summer days at the farm playing outside, swimming, playing on the trampoline, playing with the dogs and cats, and there were lots of different kinds of chickens to watch and take care of. Friends and family enjoyed hog roasts and parties there too. Grandpa, like his mom, enjoyed woodworking, and everyone has something Grandpa made and Grandma painted for the holidays. After they moved from the farm to Avilla, they continued to have a garden and host parties for family and friends. July 4th was always a great party with fireworks at home, but even monthly get-togethers were special, celebrating other holidays, birthdays and anniversaries. Together, they created a home filled with laughter, love and cherished memories for their children and grandchildren. Bob and Jeanne also spent a lot of time with their life-long church friends and loved to volunteer for Sunday School, and Bob would volunteer when needed for building upkeep and driving the church bus. Bob was always there to help anyone who asked. Bob is survived by his wife, Jeanne, and his children, Robbi (Tom) Evans, Marty (Tina) Botts, Ricky (Nikki) Botts, and Lori (Tony) Paulsen. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Brian Perkins, Mark (Safiya) Perkins, Julie (Kelly) Neumann, Kristyn (Brandon) Donaldson, Corey (Kiersten) Botts, Ashley (James) Chadwick, Ethan Botts, Izek Botts, Logan Paulsen, and Blake (Brianna DeLeon) Paulsen; his great-grandchildren, Calista Perkins (Jacob Dupree), Gage Perkins, Markell Perkins, Shataya Perkins, Isaiah Neumann, Shelby Neumann, Kennedy Donaldson, Madison Donaldson, Carson Botts, Rhys Chadwick, Hadley Paulsen, Landyn Paulsen and 1 great-great grandchild, Easton Perkins. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Daniel Botts, John Botts and Billy Botts, and great-granddaughter, Zoie. Bob will be remembered for his faith, generosity and love for his wife, family and friends. Funeral Services 1:30pm Saturday August 3, 2024 at Divine Mercy Lake Avenue Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave. Visitation from 12:30-1:30pm Saturday at the funeral home. To share a remembrance of Bob or to offer condolences to his family, please visit www.divinemercyfuneralhome.com.