Dr. Robert J. Roetker, DDS

Dr Robert Joe Roetker Birth 3 Dec 1930 Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, Death 8 Mar 2024 Lafayette, Tippecanoe, Indiana Burial Masonic Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana son of Herbert Joseph "Speed" Roetker and Elizabeth Rita Hallo

Robert Roetker (Doc), 93 passed away on March 8, 2024, at 9:10 PM surrounded by family.

We celebrate that Doc is now reunited with Anita, his lovely wife of 68 years, and other family members that are welcoming him into heaven. Anita preceded him on October 9, 2022.

Doc was born in Terre Haute, the son of the late Herbert and Elizabeth Roetker.

Proceeded in death by his sister Elizabeth Lynn, brother Jack Roetker, and grandson Brandon Smith.

Doc received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University and went on to receive a degree in dentistry from IU School of Dentistry. Upon graduating from dental school, Doc served in the US Army at the rank of Captain till 1958 and continued his service as US Army reservist until May 1964.

Robert and Anita Roetker were married June 12, 1954, at St. Patrick’s Church in Utica, Nebraska. They began their 68 years of married life in Indianapolis, spent three years in Fayetteville, North Carolina before settling in Lafayette, Indiana in 1958 where Doc practiced dentistry for over 50 years.

In addition to practicing dentistry, he was a true entrepreneur. Doc started or was a business partner of eight diverse businesses. He had a passion for building businesses and supporting the dreams of family or friends. At the time of his death, he was still involved in four of those businesses. Doc was “always in the game” with creative ideas or providing leadership to those he entrusted to lead the businesses.

The most valuable asset to Doc was his family with nine children, twenty-seven grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.

He loved to be surrounded by his family at his lake home in Culver, Indiana. Building memories with family on the lake gave him the greatest joy.

Doc is survived by his children Mary Inchauste, Jody (John) Newton, Tom (Terri) Roetker, Barbara (Mike) Smith, Anne Krause, Cecilia Corcoran, David (Michelle) Roetker, Andy Roetker, Kate (Dave) Nikolai and grandchildren Christian, Suzie, Camille (Clayton), Mitch (Erin), Grant (Jessica), Bennett (Vanessa), Rose (Juan), Melissa, Morgan, Katherine (Brian), Fritz, Henry, Will, Stuart, Ross, Joe, Anna, Frank(Vivian), Jack(Lauren), Libby (Tristan), Drew (Mary), Ben, Max, Emma, and great grandchildren Bruce, Avery, Ilsa, Sawyer, Tilly, Louis, Sophia, Cliff, Ash, and Luna who are carrying on his legacy.

Doc and Anita were big supports of the Lafayette Catholic School System and have requested in leu of flowers, send a donation to Lafayette Catholic School System c/o Roetker Family Endowment for Central Catholic Jr-Sr HS at 2410 S 9th Street, Lafayette, IN 47909 https://membership. faithdirect. net/givenow/IN172/27807

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday March 15th at 11:00 at Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Lafayette, Indiana, Fr. Dennis J. O’Keeffe officiating.

Graveside services with VFW military rites will be held at 4:00 PM in the Masonic Cemetery in Culver, Indiana. Hahn-Groeber Funeral Home of Lafayette is honored to serve the Roetker family.

Please leave memories and condolences at hahngroeberfuneralhome. com

married June 12, 1954 at St. Patrick's Church in Utica, Nebraska Anita Louise Volzke Birth 11 Mar 1931 York, York County, Nebraska Death 9 Oct 2022 Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana Burial Masonic Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana daughter of Henry Fredrick Volzke and Mary Elizabeth Miles

Anita L. Roetker, 91, of Lafayette, IN, passed away peacefully in her home on October 9, 2022 at 11:10 AM, surrounded by her family.

She was born in York, NE on March 11, 1931, the daughter of the late Henry and Mary Volzke. Anita was also preceded in death by her brother, Marvin Volzke; and grandson, Brandon Smith. Anita attended a one-room schoolhouse through the fifth grade and attended Concordia Teacher's College for High School, University of Nebraska for three years, and received her master's degree in occupational therapy from University of Kansas in 1953.

Robert and Anita Roetker were married on June 12, 1954 at St. Patrick's Church in Utica, NE. They began their 68 years of married life in Indianapolis, IN while Robert was a student at Indiana University and Anita started her practice in Occupational Therapy at Crossroad Rehabilitation center in Indianapolis.

She was a lifelong member of the Occupational Therapy Association recognized by the University of Kansas for her leadership in Occupational Therapy, having a daughter and granddaughter also graduating in Occupational Therapy from the University of Kansas.

Robert and Anita started their family while he was in the Army station at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. After military service, they moved back to Lafayette, IN in 1958 where Robert began a practice in general dentistry for the next 51 years, retiring in 2012.

One of Anita's proudest accomplishments was raising nine children. She was a dedicated wife and mother as well as an astute business professional and served as the corporate secretary for a number of family businesses.

Anita was a perfect life partner, trusting in God, in marriage, in business, in family, and in profession. She was an excellent seamstress, a gourmet cook, a family leader and a professional healthcare provider. Anita was loved by all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband; nine children; two daughter-in-laws; three son-in-laws; one brother; 25 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren who are carrying on her legacy of contributing to society in a loving, caring, and character filled manner.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Culver, IN.

Interment will follow at the Masonic Cemetery in Culver, IN.