L. Robert Eyestone, Jr.

Bob Eyestone was a giant of a man, a man of incredible strength, character and love. He was strong when he had to be, gentle when he could be, and always there when he needed to be. Bob was a loving husband, doting father and loyal son and brother. He was a man we admired for his strength, and his example, an example that lives on today in all who knew him. Bob's story began on a cold winter day in 1942, in the beachfront town of Muskegon, Michigan. Those were dark days in this country, as the wreckage of Pearl Harbor lay smoldering, and our troops readied for battle overseas. Yet on February 3, 1942, Leslie Robert and Ruth (Jobbins) Eyestone found reason for hope that winter, with the birth of their first son, a boy they named Leslie Robert Eyestone, Jr. Bob joined older sister Marguerite and younger siblings Jack and Shirley in the family home in Muskegon, where his father worked for Continental Motors and his mother cared for the kids and their home. Bob's dad was a true outdoorsman, and passed along his passion for camping, fishing and hunting to his first son. The family took one memorable childhood camping trip to Manistique Lake in the Upper Peninsula in 1958, after the Mackinac Bridge opened. The family pitched tents there in the deep forest, and had to move their tents a number of times, as his mother feared there might be bears nearby! Yet trips like those solidified a deep, lifelong passion Bob held for the outdoors, bears and all. Bob graduated from North Muskegon High School in 1960. In March of 1964, Bob was drafted by the Army. He missed going to Viet Nam when he was called home to care for his father who was seriously ill. When he resumed his service, he was sent to the uprising in the Dominican Republic rather than the conflict in Vietnam. Bob's time in the service gave him courage, strength and determination, and so much more. It was during his time in the Army he began corresponding with a wonderful young woman named Marilyn Plutschuck, who went to Western Michigan University with his cousin, Lynn. Lynn had asked Marilyn if she wanted to write to Bob, and soon enough, the first letter arrived in Bob's hands one day in 1965. The letters continued over the next year. The two met in person while Bob was home on leave, caring for his father in 1965. It was later that month that Bob also had the opportunity to meet Marilyn's parents for the first time. Bob was discharged on March 2, 1966, and bee-lined it to North Branch, Michigan, where Marilyn had taken her first teaching job, fresh from college. After a few trips back and forth in the next two weeks, Bob could wait no longer, and proposed to her during a car ride March 17 to Allen Park, where they were going to visit Marilyn's family. Actually, Bob had to propose three different times on that trip, after he said he hadn't done it very well the first two! Marilyn said yes, yes, yes, and the two were married on November 5, 1966, beginning so many wonderful years together. What began with a simple letter to a soldier had blossomed into a lifelong love affair, filled with happiness, love, and most of all, family. The newlyweds moved to Muskegon where Bob provided for his new bride with a job at Continental Motors testing engines while he attended Muskegon Community College to earn his Associates degree in Design Engineering. The job was perfect for the part-time student, as Bob could just turn on the engines, put in his earplugs, and crack the books while he worked. Soon he'd have another mouth to feed, however, as he and Marilyn were blessed with their first child, son Kenneth, in 1968. He adored being a father, and kept giving Marilyn parenting advice (like don't pick up a crying baby!) that he learned from his psychology classes! Bob and Marilyn were soon blessed with more children, as well. With his family growing, Bob took a job at Viking Tool in 1969, where his uncle was part owner. They needed a design engineer, and hired Bob, and after graduating from college in 1971, he stayed at Viking for 35 years, providing a good life for his family. Robert joined the family in 1970, Shawn in 1975, and their only daughter Becky came along in 1978, rounding out the happy home. Marilyn was thrilled to have a girl, who naturally, then, loved only "boy stuff," so she could be around her dad! The kids all dearly loved their father. Bob was a wonderful dad, always helping, teaching and encouraging them, slow to anger and quick to laugh. And together the family did a lot, usually involving the great outdoors. They went fishing and camping often, even back to his childhood trip at Manistique Lake. Bob used some of his vacation days with the family, but also saved a few for hunting season, too. Bob loved to take the boys hunting and fishing with him, and was also very active in their Cub Scouts and youth sports. Bob was always there for his children, as well as his family, and could always be counted on to help in any way he could. He spent many years taking care of his dad, his mom, and his brother Jack, who had a brain tumor and was left disabled by the treatment. They could always count on Bob to care for them. He was the strong one, both emotionally and physically, the rock of the family. If they had any problems, they called on Bob, who always answered the call. Bob was always there for his beloved Marilyn, too, and they shared a special marriage. They were faithful members of the First Lutheran Church, and they loved traveling together, which they did often, even before he retired in 2004. They shared a special, two-month trip to Alaska in a motor home. Bob loved Alaska so much for its wildlife, nature and icebergs, and they had an amazing, month-long trip to Hawaii, as well. Bob was dangerous to drive with on these trips, because he spent more time looking at the scenery than the road! Bob's children were so grateful for the fishing trips they took with Bob in the summers of 2005 and 2006, and were planning another trip for Alaska in 2007, as well. Bob was grateful for the grandchildren that had entered his life, grandsons, Oliver and Sam. Simply put, Bob adored them! Sadly, Bob was diagnosed with cancer in October of 2006, after displaying no symptoms. He and Marilyn dealt with the diagnosis with prayers, tears, and his trademark strength, despite a great deal of pain. He had a great day on Tuesday, October 31, 2006, which meant so much to his family, before he sadly died Wednesday, November 1. Bob was a giant of a man, in stature, in spirit, and in strength. He was the one you called when you needed help, when you needed support, when you needed a steady hand. He was a loyal son and brother, devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and a friend to many over the years. Most of all, Bob was an example, and a gift to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.