Robert “Bob” Weiss was born in Richmond, Indiana on December 14, 1928 to Joseph Henry Weiss and Elsie (Kramer) Weiss and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith.
He graduated from Richmond High School in 1947 and was a natural salesperson by profession. As a fifteen-year-old boy during World War II, he worked for Western Union delivering telegrams by bicycle. While in high school, Bob worked for The Kroger Company as a Clerk; which meant that when you came in to buy your groceries, you gave the Clerk your list and he would run-around the store collecting your items for you. Customers were not allowed behind the counter until Supermarkets were started later. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts and the Jaycees. Bob later started his own Weiss Market and continued with it for many years before finally going to work for Adam H. Bartel Company as a route salesman of textiles and wholesale dry goods. It was during a tour of his northern Indiana route that he discovered the resort town of Monticello, Indiana, and he moved his entire family there in 1964. On June 30, 1951, Bob married Helen L. Toschlog at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Richmond, and they celebrated over 64 years of marriage before Helen’s passing in March of 2016.
Bob was an avid bowler in the Monticello Men’s and Mixed Leagues, and served as League Secretary for many years, even when he physically could not participate. He computed individual, team and league averages by hand…..long before calculators and computers! Bob was also a founding member of the all-lefty Middleton’s Ace Hardware award winning bowling team. Bob loved to fish, work in the yard and landscaping his homes; and he was especially proud of his many wheelbarrow planters and his large tomato plants. In fact, as neighbors would upgrade their wheelbarrows, they would often drop them off for Bob to renovate and re-purpose. Some dilapidated wheelbarrows would just show-up in the middle of the night.
In 1974, Bob & Helen’s home was completely destroyed during the Monticello Tornado, and they were very fortunate to move into their rebuilt home in an astonishing ninety-one days! In later years, Bob was a resident of the White Oak Health Campus where he enjoyed the company and friendship of the Staff and fellow residents.
Surviving are his children, Tony (Joyce) Weiss, Lynchburg, Virginia, Joe (Tammy) Weiss, Monticello, Becky (Ted) Crowel, Monticello, Gary (Cecelia) Weiss, Crawfordsville; grandsons, Rocky (Megan) Weiss, Centreville, Virginia, Pete (Eve) Crowel, Delphi, Bradley (Lee Anne) Weiss, Arlington, Virginia, Brian Weiss, Indianapolis, Brady (Kaitlin) Weiss, Fort Wayne, Corby (Emily) Weiss, Forest, Virginia, Scott Weiss, Indianapolis and Caleb Weiss, Monticello; granddaughters, Molly (Justin) Milcarek, Lafayette, Hannah (Grant) Losiewicz, Monticello, Rachel (Eric) Kwiatkowski, Greenwood and Kaily (Bryan) Moaf, Johnson City, Tennessee; great grandsons, Dane, Ellis and Calvin Losiewicz, Monticello, Andrew and Elijah Crowel, Delphi, Luke Milcarek, Lafayette, Cayden Weiss, Forest, Virginia and Lucas Weiss, Centreville, Virginia; great granddaughters, Ren Milcarek, Lafayette, Scarlett Losiewicz, Monticello, Ivy Crowel, Delphi, McKenna Weiss, Centreville, Virginia, Emery and Mackenzie Weiss, Fort Wayne. Bob is also survived by his sister, Patricia Blossom, Greenville, South Carolina; and sister-in-law, Eileen King of Cambridge City. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Helen of 64 years; his parents, Joseph and Elsie Weiss; and his brother, Dale Weiss.
Visitation will be on Saturday, September 10, 2022 from noon until 3pm at Springer-Voorhis-Draper Funeral Home of Monticello. Funeral services celebrating Bob’s life will follow at 3 pm at the funeral home with Rev. Brian Beeks of the Monticello United Methodist Church officiating. Memorial contributions may be given to SOMA (Streets of Monticello Association) or to a favorite charity of the donor’s choice. Friends and family are encouraged to share a photo, a memory, or messages of condolence at www.springervoorhisdraper.com