Last Updated on May 20, 2024 by Murray-Weaver Funeral Home
Robert “Bob” Bell Kitchel, 86, of Galveston Indiana passed from this Earth to his Heavenly home in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 16, 2024 surrounded by his loving wife Mary and his 5 children.
Bob was larger than life, tall in stature with a commanding voice that he often used as “Big Bob” of the duo “Big Bob and Brother Dan” to create beautiful gospel harmonies. Bob was a self-taught guitar player, often singing at his church and in his Winter-home community in Florida. Before he found his love of guitar-strumming and singing, he could be found on just about any sports field you could imagine. He played basketball briefly for Purdue University before returning home to the family farm and was a Hall of Fame pitcher for Punchy’s Fastpitch softball team in Kokomo. When he himself wasn’t playing sports, he could be found supporting his children in their athletic endeavors, and while athletics were something Bob cherished, he cherished nothing more than his family. He could often be found on Sundays after church, with his family reciting the prayer that he wrote, gathered around the table at the family farm.
Bob was a lifelong farmer, and his love of taking care of God’s earth will continue on through his family. Bob has built a lasting legacy, demonstrating the importance of faith, family and the value of hard work. Bob was excellent at making people feel welcomed and had a gift of being able to recall names quickly, he loved his Chicago Cubbies and could often be found in a recliner in the house or out in the tool shed waving as people pulled in or drove past, a sight his family will dearly miss.
He is survived by his beloved wife Mary of 66 years, his children Pat (John) O’Brien, Jon (Diana) Kitchel, Jim (Tina) Kitchel, Andrea (Steve) Freeman and Kelly (Brooke) Kitchel, as well as his grandkids whom he loved dearly, Kyle (Emily) O’Brien, McCall (Greg) Aulbach, Kitt (Sarah) O’Brien, Bodie (Natalie) Kitchel, Alyx(Troy) Goodin, Laramie (Thomas) Shelton, Brock (Halie) Kitchel, Kace Kitchel, Lexi Freeman, Cooper Kitchel, Carson Kitchel, Kruz Freeman, Cade Kitchel and Kerrigan Kitchel. He is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren with one more on the way in June.
While we grieve for our tremendous loss on Earth, we find comfort knowing we will one day be reunited. Bob’s life will be remembered and celebrated on Monday, May 20th, 2024, at Galveston United in Faith with a viewing from 10:00am-2:00pm and the funeral at 2:00pm.