George R. “Bob” Shanks

Last Updated on August 6, 2026 by Cass County Communication Network

George R. “Bob” Shanks, 93, of Logansport, Indiana, went to be with the Lord on Monday morning, August 3, 2026, at Parkview North Hospital in Fort Wayne, surrounded by his family. He passed away from complications following a stroke last week.

Born November 15, 1932, in Logansport, Indiana, Bob was the son of George Asher and Frances Edna (Davidson) Shanks. His parents ran the Shanks Drive‑In at the top of College Hill, a landmark woven into the family’s early years.

When school boundaries allowed families to choose their path, his sister, Patsy, headed to Logansport. Bob – already aware that his height might keep him off a city basketball roster – chose Royal Center and proudly became a Bulldog. What might have discouraged another boy only fueled him. If someone said he couldn’t do something, Bob made it his mission to prove them wrong.

For Bob, that old Bulldog saying rang true: It’s not the size of the dog in the fight—it’s the size of the fight in the dog. That grit shaped the way he lived his life.

Bob was a proud member of the Royal Center High School Class of 1951. After a county tournament, a group of Washington Township students—including Shirley Ann Purcell—stopped at Shanks’ Drive‑In. The carhop that evening was the owner’s son, Bob Shanks. For Bob, it was love at first sight. Shirley’s date felt obligated to mention she was “taken,” but that just made him try harder.

In a moment straight out of a fairytale, Shirley lost her shoe at the drive‑in. When she and her friends returned to look for it, Bob (her soon‑to‑be Prince Charming) was waiting. When God has a plan, He makes a way. The two began dating and quickly fell in love. Sometimes the right shoe makes all the difference – and when it’s in God’s hands, it becomes the perfect fit. 

Their courtship paused briefly when Uncle Sam drafted Bob and sent him to Greenland, where he served as a radar detector monitoring Russian activity. Once back home, on July 5, 1953, in Union Presbyterian Church, Bob married his “Cinderella.”

After a short honeymoon, Bob was assigned to Camp Stewart, Georgia, and Shirley tagged along. The following year, he and Shirley lived on an Army base in Flushing, New York, before returning to Cass County for the birth of their first child. On March 1, 1955, they began running the family drive‑in, and later that year they leased a filling station in Royal Center—founding the Bob‑O‑Link Drive‑In. During those lean years, Bob also delivered fuel oil for Alder Fuel, always laughing about how he had to call ahead before delivering to East Wabash Avenue so he wouldn’t disturb the clientele.

Bob and Shirley were a remarkable team. After visiting the first McDonald’s in Indianapolis in 1960, the idea of offering 15‑cent hamburgers sparked their imagination. But the franchise fee was far beyond reach. Bob, confident in what he’d learned from his parents about good food and good business, believed he and Shirley could build something of their own.

They approached Emily Studebaker about a small parcel of land on the east end of town. Her son, Bill, loved the idea—and the rest became local history. On November 18, 1961, the first Mr. Happy Burger opened its doors. Hard to imagine now, but in 1961, Mr. Happy Burger and two other businesses were the only things on U.S. 24 East heading from here to Peru.

In 1970, the second Mr. Happy Burger opened in Elwood, Indiana. That location was sold two years later to help build the third restaurant—Mr. Happy Burger West. Shirley worked right alongside Bob, cooking, planning the menu, and creating many of the recipes that became customer favorites: the tartar sauce, Spanish sauce, and chili soup. She even sewed all the uniforms for the staff at each location.

In 1980, Bob and Shirley opened Hap’s Downtowner on the 400 block of East Broadway. Their famous broasted chicken, a full salad bar, and catering services quickly became community staples. Not long after, Hap’s Pizza earned a reputation far beyond Logansport. By then, the whole family was involved in the daily operation of the business.

Even Bob’s father‑in‑law—Earl Purcell, the man Bob once felt he needed to impress—became one of his biggest supporters. Presenting Earl with grandchildren certainly helped, but Earl’s respect grew from watching Bob work. A retired railroader, Earl enjoyed helping Bob expand and remodel, teaching him the skills that would serve him for decades.

Whenever Bob and Shirley traveled, they paid attention. If they saw something they loved, they brought the idea home. The ice cream parlor is the perfect example. Not everyone could make the trip to the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street at Disney World – but they could walk into Hap’s and feel that same storybook charm. The ice cream seemed magical, the food tasted like memories in the making, and that was Bob’s secret.

Some even called him the “Walt Disney of Logansport.”  Bob didn’t just build restaurants; he shaped generations with a brand woven into the identity of this town. His work was recognized statewide when he was inducted into the Indiana Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Hall of Fame in 2011, the year Mr. Happy Burger celebrated its 50th anniversary. In earlier years, he received the IRA’s Good Neighbor Award, and in 2022, Bob was honored as a Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Bob was proud of the many youth activities their family business supported – sports teams, 4‑H clubs, church programs – anything that helped young people grow.

Through all of it, Bob and Shirley held fast to one core principle: Faith Mattered. They never opened on Sundays, and Bob would never ask anyone to work on the Lord’s Day. Even when their restaurant sat literally between two of the largest fast‑food chains in the world, it was never about money. He trusted that God would provide, and he lived that trust quietly, consistently, and by example.

A longtime member of Shiloh Christian Church, Bob served wherever he was needed – superintendent, deacon, elder, Sunday School teacher, and even project manager during the construction of the new church building. His servant’s heart guided every role he took on.

If you’ve read this far, you may be wondering whether Bob ever had time for hobbies. He rarely put his own interests ahead of others, but he did have one pastime he truly enjoyed – harness racing. With the help of the Myers, Kitchel and Murphy’s as trainers and jockeys, Bob competed through the Indiana Harness Racing Association’s circuit at county fairs, the Indiana State Fair, and racing venues throughout the Midwest. It was one of the few places where he allowed himself a little fun, a little competition, and a chance to cheer for something that was just his.

Bob was a wonderful father because he kept just enough childlike joy to make life fun. He turned their home into a little park of its own – a pool, an outdoor pond with its own island and bridge, goats, and the “lady of the pond” that delighted anyone passing by.

He is survived by four children: Sherry (Greg) VanSoest of Logansport, Becky (Reid) Partin of Royal Center, Jeff (Deb) Shanks of Logansport, and Emily “Emy” (Dale) Bridge of Rochester. Of all the jobs Bob ever had in his life, none meant more to him than being their dad. He adored his grandchildren and great‑grandchildren and loved cheering them on in every activity they pursued. Grandchildren: Jeremy VanSoest, Scott (Brandi) VanSoest, Linnea (Cody) Lebo, Lisa (Neil) Daily, Shae Shanks (Bryce Brown), Miles Shanks (Kori Downs), Morgan Shanks (Jake Miller), Bobby (Holly) Bridge, Danny (Angie) Bridge, Eric (Andrea) Bridge; great-grandchildren: Ainslee and Anniston VanSoest, Hallie and Jalynn Lebo, Savannah Daily, Sophie Dailey, Avery Brown, Mattingly and Case Bridge, Bennett and Chandler Bridge, and Taylor and Ashton Bridge; nieces, Linnea Whitlow, Jackie Kingery, LuAnn Schoen and Debbie Keys.

Bob was a good judge of character, and he cared for his staff the way most folks care for family. He was proud of every one of them – especially the kids who flipped burgers all through high school and college and went on to do big things.

He felt the same way about his church family. The people he worshiped with and worked alongside at Shiloh Christian Church meant a lot to him, and he counted them as some of the most important folks in his life.

Shirley was a patient at Miller’s Merry Manor when Covid first hit and the country essentially shut down. Even though he couldn’t be with her those first few days, Bob drove his Happy Burger truck up near her unit every day, climbed into the truck bed, and stood on his tiptoes to hand her a rose through her second‑floor window. That’s love.

And truth be told, it was the same kind of love he showed her from the night she lost her shoe at Shanks’ Drive‑In. Bob never stopped being her Prince Charming — even when the world made it hard.

He’s been waiting to see his Cinderella again since March 26, 2020.

He was also preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Patsy and Walter Hansen; son-in-law, David L. Goltry; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Leona and Dick Woodling.

Bob was blessed with the loving care of the Pleasant Escape Senior Living staff. His family would like to express their gratitude to everyone working there, as well as the fellow residents and their families, for making his stay there so comfortable. A special thank you is also extended to the Cass County First Responders and Parkview Logansport ER team for the care given to Bob and their efforts to give him exceptional care.

The family invites you to help honor Bob’s life in a uniquely hometown way. At 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2026, the Shanks family will travel in procession from Fisher Funeral Chapel to the east side of town, passing the former Mr. Happy Burger East before continuing west on Broadway. The procession will then drive past the former Mr. Happy Burger West – now Tokyo – where the big steer still stands watch.

If you wish to pay tribute to Bob at either of these locations, or in between, please be in place by 1 p.m. Your presence is a gift, and the family is deeply grateful.

A private family funeral service will be held in Shiloh Christian Church. Burial, with full military honors, will follow in the Shiloh Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shiloh Christian Church Building fund and the Shanks Family Scholarship Fund in care of the Cass County Community Foundation.

Arrangements have been trusted to Fisher Funeral Chapel where you may share memories, photos and condolences on Bob’s Tribute Wall at www.fisherfuneralchapel.com

Now that you’ve read this, for anyone craving Mr. Happy Burger’s food, it lives on. The original Royal Center location, the Bob-O-Link, purchased the business and the famous recipes. You can stop by anytime for your favorites — everything from tenderloins and Hap’s Delights to fries and coleslaw, topped off with that slushy ice and a Coca‑Cola with extra syrup. Bob was an expert at marketing, and he would grin at the thought of his obituary sending a few new customers through the door.