Robert Thorpe

Robert “Bob” Allen Thorpe, born in Bloomington-Normal, IL, on October 24, 1932, son of Aletha Raynard and Ernest Thorpe, passed away Tuesday evening at 5:45 pm on June 25, 2024, at Accolade Healthcare of Savoy, IL. He was preceded in death by his sister Mary Anne Attig, granddaughter Malia Rose, and wife Katherine “Katy” Thorpe. Bob married Katy on August 1, 1958, at the Fisher United Methodist Church.

Robert and Katy had a strong bond and a lasting marriage throughout the 55 years they shared together. They were both deeply beloved by their family and friends, especially by their grandchildren. Surviving are their two daughters: Julie (Ken) Knowles and Beth Giedraitis; six grandchildren: Kyle (Ola) Rose, Katie (Ashley) Rose, Kristin Rose, Lindsay Giedraitis, Alana (Scott) Mumma, and Jonathan Giedraitis; and three great-grandchildren: Matthew Rose, and Leo and Max Mumma.

A graveside service for close family will be held at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Champaign, IL, on Tuesday, July 2.

Bob graduated from high school in Bloomington-Normal and went on to graduate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, majoring in Business Administration. He was a computer analyst for many years at the University.

Bob was a veteran, stationed in Okinawa as a Lieutenant in Marksmanship Instruction.

Bob was an avid, masterful gardener and fisherman in his spare time and into his retirement. He had a love for nature, animals, and the outdoors. One of his favorite hobbies was tending the acreage of land at his home that he and Katy shared in east Urbana, IL, growing a variety of radiant flowers and different types of tomatoes and vegetables. Bob demonstrated a sharp intuition for caring for animals; at one point owning horses, goats, rabbits, and sheep which he would graze in the pasture. He was also the owner of many cherished dogs throughout his lifetime, including his precious pug Choi, his lovable short-haired Chocolate Lab Cody, and his Chihuahua named Blue, to name a few. He would often go to Clinton Lake and Lake Shelbyville with friends and family on fishing trips, almost always coming back with plenty of catfish.

His granddaughter recalls that during one particular outing at Clinton Lake, he accidentally dropped his wallet in the water. While Bob was a wonderful fisherman, he did not much enjoy swimming and diving. However, he still reluctantly and comically dove into the lake to search for his wallet. After a while spent diving down, scanning the area, and coming back up for air gasping, he had no luck in finding it. As Bob’s spirit was tenacious yet jovial, he gave up on searching for the wallet after trying for some time and continued to fish and enjoy himself, letting go of the idea that he had to retrieve his wallet right away. Luckily, his wallet was found by a fellow fisherman and returned to him, fully intact, not long after the incident.

Robert Thorpe, with the geniality and endurance he showed throughout his lifetime, will be greatly missed by friends and family.

 

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