Robert Ellis ‘Bob’ Wyckoff, of Niles

Published 9:17 am Thursday, July 25, 2019

Robert Ellis “Bob” Wyckoff, 96, of Niles, died peacefully at 9:30 p.m. on Monday, July 22, 2019, at Spectrum Lakeland — Niles Hospital following a brief illness.

He was born on April 19, 1923, in Simpson, West Virginia, to Dennis and Mildred (Snyder) Wyckoff.

Robert E. Wyckoff

He was graduated from Grafton (West Virginia) High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served at many stations and on many vessels, earning both the American Campaign Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with a bronze star. Yeoman First Class Wyckoff was honorably discharged as a veteran of World War II. He was employed for many years in the former Mishawaka office of Wheelabrator Frye. In retirement, he enjoyed working at the former God’s Green Earth garden center on S. 11 Street in Niles, and its predecessors at that location.

Bob was a member of the Community Evangelical Free Church in Niles and was a past president and former member of the Brandywine Lions Club. He and his wife enjoyed the Sarett Nature Center, north of Benton Harbor, and participated in several trips organized by Sarett. He maintained a significant garden, enjoyed experimenting with non-native plants, and shared his research with the Michigan State University Extension. He read everything including newspapers, current events, history and novels, and was completing jigsaw puzzles just a few days ago.

On Oct. 12, 1946, in London, England, he married the former Lilian Ellen Ward whom he had met while the U.S. Navy had him stationed in the office of the U.S. Embassy in London. Bob and Lilian Wyckoff celebrated the remarkable 59th anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on April 5, 2006.

They were also sadly preceded in death by a son, Mark Wyckoff, on April 11, 1994; a son-in-law, James Leblang on Nov. 30, 2017; and by Bob’s sister, Helen Shenal; and brothers, Jerry Wyckoff and Kenneth Wyckoff.

Surviving family includes Bob and Lilian’s children, Robert G. Wyckoff, of Lansing, and Gary D. Wyckoff, of Fairplay, Colorado, and Suzanne L. Leblang, of Canton, Mississippi; grandchildren, Alyssa Wyckoff, Kyle Wyckoff, Joshua (Adrianna) Leblang, Rachel Leblang, Jennifer Wyckoff, and Matthew Rouleau; several nieces and nephews; and a wonderful circle of great friends, especially those at Brentwood.

The memorial service for Bob Wyckoff will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2019, at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 E. Main St. in Niles, with Pastor Matthew Hickok of Community Evangelical Free Church officiating. The service will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard. Committal will be at Arlington National Cemetery.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Bob may be made to the Sarett Nature Center, 2300 North Benton Center Road, Benton Harbor, Michigan, 49022; sarett.com/. Online condolences may be left at: halbritterwickens.com.