Robert "Bob" Ensman

Robert "Bob" Ensman was born July 29, 1937 in Findlay, Ohio to parents Eugene and Eva (Apple) Ensman. He spent most of his childhood in Van Buren, Ohio.
Scouting became a big part of Bob's life after his father started a local Boy Scout troop. He reached the rank of Eagle Scout (with two palms, for those in the know) and credited his experiences with teaching him the leadership skills he would use for the rest of his life.
Bob attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Analytical Chemistry in 1959. He married fellow student Judy Baumer that same year and moved with her to Bloomington to join Indiana University as a Chemistry graduate student. However, after an inspiring research project involving the design and construction of an electronic instrument... and the birth of two children he took a short break to study electrical engineering at Rose Hulman. Upon his return to IU in 1963, he was hired by the Chemistry Department into the brand new role of "Instrument Specialist," where he was invited to organize and staff a new technical group for the department, Electronic Instrumentation Services. His original plan to earn a PhD thus turned into a lifelong career in electronics, supporting chemistry research at IU.
In the early 1970s, he decided to form his own company, Ensman Instrumentation (EI), to do freelance after-hours repair and design work. His most significant project was the EI-400, a "fast-scan / dual channel micro electrode potentiostat" designed in the 1980s. It was the first commercial instrument of its kind. By 1985, EI had shipped 84 units (made in his basement) to researchers in the US and abroad, resulting in many scientific advances. An estimated additional 25 units were fabricated and/or sold by another company in later years. He also worked with a team of researchers to create a similar instrument to monitor, in real time, dopamine concentration levels in the brains of fully awake, freely moving rats, a device that furthered the understanding of brain function.
Outside of work, Bob was a founding member of St. John's church on the west side of Bloomington, served as the secretary of the Professional Staff Council at IU, and managed to take his family on many camping trips in a pop-up camper (something the kids weren't always happy about at the time, but later came to treasure).
Bob retired in 1997 after 37 years of service to IU, but kept busy doing electronic instrumentation consulting work for several IU Bloomington departments, serving in leadership positions with his Homeowners Association and the IU Retirees Association, and acting as the go-to fix-it guy for his family and his community-in particular, spending hours caring for the neighborhood pond. He and Judy enjoyed driving across the US (in a more comfortable hardtop trailer) and traveling the world, where he found a new hobby in photography. He also greatly enjoyed short camping trips, sleepovers (with pancake breakfasts!), and construction projects with his grandchildren.
Bob and Judy moved to Bell Trace Independent Living in January 2021. Bob's physical and mental abilities gradually declined due to Parkinson's Disease, but Judy was there to keep him going. He passed away peacefully in the night on January 18, 2025, at the Bell Trace Health and Living Center.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents: Eugene and Eva Ensman, his brother: Fr. Raymond Ensman, and his son-in-law: Mario Bettencourt. He is survived by his wife: Judith Ensman, sisters: Sue Nocella (partner Jerry Sanders) and Ann Long, children: Lisa Ensman (spouse Anurag Shankar), Mike Ensman (spouse Christina Ensman), Catherine Ensman, and Patricia Ensman (spouse Mario Bettencourt), and grandchildren: Dhruv Shankar, Brooke Carmichael (fiancé Anthony Back), Rajin Shankar, and Jessica McNear (spouse Jackson McNear).
For anyone wishing to make a donation in memory of Bob, please consider the Parkinson's Foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, or St. Paul Catholic Center in Bloomington.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00PM on Friday, January 24, 2025 at Allen Funeral Home and Crematory, 4155 South Old State Road 37, Bloomington, IN. The family will receive friends on Friday from 11:30AM until the time of service at the funeral home.
Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com.