Robert William Pflueger

Robert William Pflueger, 95
Robert William "Bob" Pflueger, 95 of Ashland, Ohio went home to be with the Lord early Monday morning, September 25, 2023.
Robert was born on December 9, 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of the late William and Emma (nee Bostleman) Pflueger.
Robert grew up in Cleveland, and after graduation from high school, he attended Capital University in Bexley, Ohio. He then studied for the ministry at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. While in Columbus, he met the love of his life, Dorothy Fritz whom he married on June 3, 1951.
After Bob and Dorothy married, they made the move to Loudonville, Ohio where he became the intern for the Zion Lutheran Church. After Bob completed his last year in the Seminary and his internship at the Lutheran Church, they packed up and moved to Ida, Michigan where he became the pastor of St. Marks Lutheran Church in Ida and the Zion Lutheran Church in Sommerfield. It was while in Ida, their first daughter, Miriam was born.
In 1958, Robert accepted a call to pastor the Grace Lutheran Church in Thornville, Ohio. He served the congregation there for 18 years and during that time, they added three more children to the family, Bethany, Jonathan and Sara. In 1976, Robert was called to move the family back to Loudonville to pastor the Zion Lutheran Church, the same church where he had interned many years earlier.
After Robert's retirement in 1993, he and Dorothy built a home in Ashland, Ohio and then became an associate Pastor at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Ashland. In 2015, Robert then retired "for good". He was a skilled woodworker and enjoyed working on improving each home they lived in. He also used his carpentry skills by donating many hours to the church. The cross at the Grace Lutheran Church was built by Bob. Bob along with several others from Trinity started a woodworker's group.
Robert was also a musician, who played the flute in high school, a little bass drum in college, played the piano and sang. He sang in the choir while at Capital. At Grace Church, he directed the church choir and led the services in song. He sang the Lord's Prayer on many occasions. His love of music stayed with him, and he and Dorothy formed a quartet at Trinity Church after they retired. They sang for services, nursing homes and other special requests. His piano skills were such that he didn't need the music, he just played. It was a joy listening to him play with Dorothy singing along.
Robert and Dorothy led many trips around the country and around the world. They would organize small groups of church members to visit different parts of the world, making the arrangements and reservations. They visited Greece, Italy, England, Ireland and Scotland, just to name a few. They also did several Alaska cruises.
Pastor Bob is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Dorothy (Fritz) Pflueger of Ashland; Miriam (David) Truex, Bethany Pflueger, Jonathan (Virginia) Pflueger and Sara Pflueger; grandchildren Christopher Truex, Rachel (Tom) Steiner, Katherine (Garrett) Stevenson, Noah Pflueger-Peters and Daniel Pflueger.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 2, 2023, at 11:00 am in the Trinity Lutheran Church with the Reverend Kevin McClain presiding. Interment will take place following at the Ashland Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday, October 1, 2023, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home.
For those unable to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home's website at denbowfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home and Crematory is handling the arrangements.