Robert Webster Hennen
July 17th, 1952 - May 13th, 2025
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Robert's Obituary
Robert Webster Hennen was born on July 17, 1952, to Lloyd and Ruth (Bradburn) Hennen in LaPorte, IN. He grew up in Suburban Gardens, Indiana, near New Carlisle. His 1st grade school year was spent with tuberculosis at a sanitarium near his house. His uncle and grandma were there with him, and he was able to see his parents once a week, and he could wave to his brother Glen out the window. He recovered and repeated 1st grade, but his mom had a soft spot since he had to eat hospital food for so long and made him hamburgers and cake from that point on (according to him). He had a life-long love of chocolate, and had the nickname Bosco as a kid. He played football, track, wrestled, and marched in the band in high school. Robert met Shelley, the love of his life at a church revival. They continued to date through high school and college, including time together at Michiana Christina Camp. He graduated from New Prairie High School in 1971 and from Ball State University in 1977 with his Masters in Physics.
Robert married Shelley Wolfe on June 2, 1973. He learned to like spaghetti when he visited Shelley’s parents’ house for the first time. He learned to like mushrooms when he worked as a manager at Ponderosa. But he never really learned to like vegetables. He started working at the Cook Nuclear Plant in 1978 and moved to Magician Lake. He and Shelley built their home on the land owned by Shelley’s parents. His first and favorite boat was his brown and ivory Prostar in 1973, and he had many fun adventures with the neighbors over the years.
His daughter Meghan was born in 1980 and son Brooke is 1983. He loved water skiing and invented many fun and interesting water activities behind the boat. His son Sean was born in 1991. Robert became Coach to his kids through the local soccer club as well as Head Referee for a while, and continued to coach all 3 of his kids in basketball and assist in soccer all through junior high and high school. He completed multiple triathlons with his kids as they became young adults. One of his favorite things to do was torture the teenagers by whipping them in the tubes behind the boat until they couldn’t hold on anymore. He was the best boat driver around for his kids, nieces and nephews, family friends, youth group kids, camp staff, and Hill grandkids.
Robert was very invested in Michiana Christian Camp and served on the executive board for 30 years. He helped remodel many of the cabins and buildings, did Sunday registration every week, and was the ultimate ice cream scooper at camp celebrations.
His kids got married and he gained three more favorite kids, Andy, Richelle, and Courtney, who all quickly learned to enjoy time on the deck and in the boat. In 2008, he became Hampa to Keean, and retired from the Cook Plant. That gave him more time to watch Sean play sports and do all the lake fun he loved. He later became Hampa to Zeke and Foster. He took his job seriously as the biggest sports fan by going to every adult kid and grandkid sports event, as well as band and choir concerts and grandparents day at school. He woke up his grandkids singing each summer morning and had the boat uncovered to take them surfing, wakeboarding, skiing, and tubing, not to mention taking them fishing out on the pontoon boat.
We all learned to appreciate classic rock music, hamburgers on the grill, chocolate cake, a good joke, and a nap from him. Most of all, he made his faith in God a priority and taught all of us to take time to thank God for each meal and each day. He also made it very clear that there is no need in this world for suits and ties, but a bathing suit and tank top were daily necessities. His sons and grandsons definitely learned that from him!
Robert, known as Hampa or Uncle Robert by many, peacefully passed away on May 13, 2025. Loved ones include wife Shelley, daughter Meghan and son in law Andy, grandkids Keean and Zeke, son Brooke and wife Richelle, and son Sean and wife Courtney, grandson Foster, brother Glen Hennen and wife Sue.
A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, May 18, 2025 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Service, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI 49085. Friends may visit with the family from 1:00 P.M. until 3:00 P.M., Sunday at the funeral Home. In lieu of flowers donations in his name can be given to Michiana Christian Camp (7383 Steinbauer Rd, Niles, MI). Those wishing to share a memory of Robert online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com
Robert married Shelley Wolfe on June 2, 1973. He learned to like spaghetti when he visited Shelley’s parents’ house for the first time. He learned to like mushrooms when he worked as a manager at Ponderosa. But he never really learned to like vegetables. He started working at the Cook Nuclear Plant in 1978 and moved to Magician Lake. He and Shelley built their home on the land owned by Shelley’s parents. His first and favorite boat was his brown and ivory Prostar in 1973, and he had many fun adventures with the neighbors over the years.
His daughter Meghan was born in 1980 and son Brooke is 1983. He loved water skiing and invented many fun and interesting water activities behind the boat. His son Sean was born in 1991. Robert became Coach to his kids through the local soccer club as well as Head Referee for a while, and continued to coach all 3 of his kids in basketball and assist in soccer all through junior high and high school. He completed multiple triathlons with his kids as they became young adults. One of his favorite things to do was torture the teenagers by whipping them in the tubes behind the boat until they couldn’t hold on anymore. He was the best boat driver around for his kids, nieces and nephews, family friends, youth group kids, camp staff, and Hill grandkids.
Robert was very invested in Michiana Christian Camp and served on the executive board for 30 years. He helped remodel many of the cabins and buildings, did Sunday registration every week, and was the ultimate ice cream scooper at camp celebrations.
His kids got married and he gained three more favorite kids, Andy, Richelle, and Courtney, who all quickly learned to enjoy time on the deck and in the boat. In 2008, he became Hampa to Keean, and retired from the Cook Plant. That gave him more time to watch Sean play sports and do all the lake fun he loved. He later became Hampa to Zeke and Foster. He took his job seriously as the biggest sports fan by going to every adult kid and grandkid sports event, as well as band and choir concerts and grandparents day at school. He woke up his grandkids singing each summer morning and had the boat uncovered to take them surfing, wakeboarding, skiing, and tubing, not to mention taking them fishing out on the pontoon boat.
We all learned to appreciate classic rock music, hamburgers on the grill, chocolate cake, a good joke, and a nap from him. Most of all, he made his faith in God a priority and taught all of us to take time to thank God for each meal and each day. He also made it very clear that there is no need in this world for suits and ties, but a bathing suit and tank top were daily necessities. His sons and grandsons definitely learned that from him!
Robert, known as Hampa or Uncle Robert by many, peacefully passed away on May 13, 2025. Loved ones include wife Shelley, daughter Meghan and son in law Andy, grandkids Keean and Zeke, son Brooke and wife Richelle, and son Sean and wife Courtney, grandson Foster, brother Glen Hennen and wife Sue.
A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, May 18, 2025 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Service, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI 49085. Friends may visit with the family from 1:00 P.M. until 3:00 P.M., Sunday at the funeral Home. In lieu of flowers donations in his name can be given to Michiana Christian Camp (7383 Steinbauer Rd, Niles, MI). Those wishing to share a memory of Robert online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com
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