Robert Peter Van Etten

Robert Peter Van Etten
(July 11, 1949 to December 14, 2024)
L - love, laughter, leader, listener, Little Person
I - inclusion
F - faith, friend, favorite, fond memories
E - engineer, endurance, enjoyable
W - wonderful, welcoming, wisdom, witness for Jesus
I - incredible, intelligent
T - teacher, thoughtful
H - humor, happy, helpful, humble
R - role model, remembered
O - officer [LPA, church & Amateur Radio]
B - blessing
E - effective
R - respect
T - true gentleman
The words on this Life with Robert acrostic were all drawn from the 500 plus comments on Facebook posts sharing news of Robert's death. Yet the whole alphabet is needed to fully describe his life. For example, adding the letter P after Robert would allow for descriptors like pillar, positive, and patience.
Robert's sphere of influence included his three families-relatives, church, and Little People; school and college friends; clients and colleagues from his rehabilitation engineering practice; neighbors; and buddies who shared his interest in computers, amateur radio, photography, and water sports. His impact included both personal encounters and advocacy for disability rights, starting at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Born to Peter and Irene Van Etten, Robert was second in a line of five children: Paula, Robert, Michael, Peter and John. He was dearly loved by Angela, his wife of 43 years, and his great family. The magnitude of the loss is hard to put into words, but knowing he is running pain-free in heaven with Jesus softens the blow. And we know that our separation is only temporary. As children of God, we are confident that we will see Robert again given our mutual belief in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for our sins and gave us eternal life.
Robert walked with God in the highs and lows of his life with dwarfism. And God remembered Robert. As a young boy in a time of great distress, God sent an angel to sit on the end of his bed and assure him that everything was going to be all right. And indeed his life was far better than he dreamed or imagined! As Robert matured in his faith, he taught adult and children's Sunday School classes, served as an ordained deacon, offered hospitality, and enjoyed home fellowships.
The fruit of God's Spirit were evident in Robert's life-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. His favorite passage of Scripture is about a short statured tax collector named Zaccheus. When his attempts to see Jesus failed, Zaccheus ran ahead and climbed a tree. For the rest of the story, see Luke 19:1-10.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at Tropical Farms Baptist Church, 1555 SW Kanner Hwy, Stuart, FL 34997. Phone 772-287-2770. There will be a drop box at the church for photos, cards, or donations payable to Little People of America (please add "adoptions" on the memo line). Any flowers received will be appreciated by Angela and residents at the two rehabilitation facilities where Robert resided for four months.
Please join us for lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the service.