Robert Shreffler

A lifelong resident of the community he loved, Robert Shreffler was the sort of man whom everyone seemed to know. He was personable, likable, and fun-loving with a zest for life that was contagious to those around him. Guided by an unwavering faith, Bob immersed himself in being the hands and feet of the Lord he loved while faithfully serving within his church family. Second only to his faith was his love for the family that he shared with the love of his life who was his true companion in every way. Bob was a successful businessman who accomplished so much of which to be proud, but it was his family that was the legacy he was so very proud of. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten by all who were within his reach.

The 1950s were filled with numerous noteworthy events. Civil rights came to the forefront when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus, and industry was booming in order to meet peacetime needs. There were unforgettable trends that transformed the cultural landscape of our nation such as Elvis Presley who took the music world by storm, blue jeans that became a permanent part of our wardrobe, and James Dean who made young girls swoon on the silver screen. It was during this eventful time that a young couple from Manteno, Illinois, was blessed with the birth of a healthy baby boy on January 31, 1955, in Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, Illinois. Robert Gerald was the second of five children and the first son born to his parents, Bethel and Jerry Shreffler, and he was raised on a farm in DeSelm alongside his sisters, Deborah and Diane, and his brothers, Rick and Daniel.

Robert, or Bob as he was often known, was a bustle of activity from the time he was a young boy. He enjoyed playing chess and was responsible for helping on the farm taking care of cattle, baling hay, and walking the beans. As a family they enjoyed eating at Wally’s, and it was a day to remember when Bob was one of the big kids who could eat at the counter. He later went on to become a bus boy at Wally’s. When he was a teen, Bob viewed filling the gas tank in the car to be a minor detail, so it was not uncommon for his mom to have to come rescue him somewhere. He was a student at local schools including Manteno High School where he played in the band and was on the wrestling team.

After graduating from high school in 1973, Bob attended Kankakee Community College and later transferred to Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

New and exciting changes were in store for Bob when he met the young girl of his dreams on a Sunday evening in November of 1977. Her name was Sherye Bass, and they met at Faith Baptist Church in Morris, Illinois. They began dating the following summer, and with a desire to spend the rest of their lives together they were married on October 13, 1979, in Morris, Illinois.

Not to be forgotten during the time that Bob’s relationship with Sherye was blossoming was the beginning of his journey along a career path he would find to be greatly rewarding. In December of 1978, he joined People’s Bank of Kankakee County where he remained throughout his entire life, which meant that he was there for more than 35 years. He held a variety of positions including branch manager, internal auditor, and most recently a loan officer. Anyone who really knew Bob could attest to the fact that he absolutely loved his job, the Hammes Family, and his coworkers as well. His devotion to his work didn’t go unnoticed either as even his doctors at Rush commented that most patients are looking for more time off while Bob was always asking when he would be able to go back to work!

Although his career was very important to him, nothing compared to his family as far as Bob was concerned. Together he and Sherye welcomed their daughter, Brooke, into their hearts and home in 1981, and four years later their family was completed with the birth of their daughter, Brittany. Bob was an active part of his daughters‘ lives as he was there for all of their ball games, swim meets, and additional events and activities. He even coached them in t-ball and softball. Together Bob and his wife shared a love for biking, hiking, cooking, and dogs.

In 2008, Bob welcomed a son-in-law into the family circle when Bob Schmidt, a young man from Glen Ellyn asked permission to marry their daughter Brooke.

With faith as a cornerstone in his heart, Bob, his wife, and his daughters became members of Immanuel Baptist Church in 1998. There, Bob fully immersed himself in serving his Lord and Savior by being active in a variety of ministries and activities including in Awana and youth group, serving as a deacon, finance committee member, small group leader, and coordinator of the men’s ministry.

In his leisure time Bob enjoyed keeping busy, and his interests were even better when shared with his family and friends. He was a member of the Gideons, the Kankakee Exchange Club, and the Kankakee Rotary. When Bob’s good friend, Tom Grizzle, introduced him to the Big Green Egg, a ceramic grill and smoker, there was no turning back as he became obsessed in mastering the art of grilling. After he learned all the ins and outs, Bob taught Sherye everything he knew. As something they both enjoyed, the BGE became the entertaining center of their home. Bob and Sherye even cooked together at Big Green Egg festivals and traveled to HOTlanta several times to attend the national festival.

A man who was deeply devoted to his wife, an attentive father to his children, and a loyal friend, Robert Shreffler was a blessing in the lives of those around him. He was a vital part of his community and a willing servant of the Lord who was his constant companion. Bob was genuine in his love and concern for others, which made him such a great listener who always managed to keep everything in proper perspective. His timeless legacy will be carried on by those who follow him.

Robert Gerald “Bob” Shreffler died on March 15, 2014. Bob’s family includes his wife, Sherye of Kankakee; daughters: Brooke (Robert) Schmidt of Lisle and Brittany Shreffler of Rantoul; mother, Bethel Shreffler of Bourbonnais; sisters: Deborah Shreffler of Wilmington, Diane (Bill) Wilcox of Bourbonnais; brothers: Rick (Barb) Shreffler of Dunlap and Daniel (Vickie) Shreffler of Bourbonnais; mother in law, Helen Bass of Schaumburg; sister-in-law and brother-in-law: Bobbie (Frank) Afable of Schaumburg; nieces and nephews; Frankie, Jerry, Ian, Jocelyn, Emily, and Andrew; and one very special friend Sophye. Bob was preceded in death by his father and father, in law Robert Bass. A time for family and friends to gather will be Thursday, March 20, 2014, at the Kankakee Chapel of Schreffler Life Story Funeral Homes from 1p.m. until the 5:30 p.m. Celebration of Life Service. Burial will be private and at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family wishes. Please visit www.schrefflerfuneralhomes.com where you can learn more about Bob’s life, record a favorite memory, download a photo and sign his online guestbook.