Robert G. Kreider

Robert Glenn Kreider, Age 93.

Bob was born November 5, 1926 in Warsaw, Indiana, to Ralph Jacob and Grace Ellen (Metzger) Kreider and passed away April 3, 2020, in Hamilton County.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 68 years, Alma Lee (Helm) Kreider, his parents, his brother Ralph Jr., and sister Geraldine Stewart.

Bob is survived by daughters M. Jeannine Mattingly (Steve) of Carmel, Indiana and Stephanie G. Anderson (Richard) of Chandler, Oklahoma; grandchildren Benjamin Mattingly, Robert W. Mattingly, and Kyle A. Mattingly, Daniel B. Anderson (Brandy), and Emily Anderson; and three great-grandchildren Avery, Jackson, and Colt Anderson.

Reared in Indiana and Central Illinois, Bob lived all his adult life in Indianapolis, until the past few months. As a child he enjoyed the freedom of a country boy with lots of room to roam whenever he wasn’t working for his dad. At one point he even rode his pony to school daily. He and his older sister liked to fondly recall some of the wild adventures they had together.

He graduated mid-year from Ben Davis High School to serve in the U.S. Army as Company Clerk at the end of WWII in the Philippines and then afterwards in Korea.

A few years after his military service he met his soulmate; a year later they married in 1951, and he brought his bride to Indianapolis where together they created a cozy home and eventually reared their two daughters on the east side of that city.  They spent 47 years happily living together in their beloved home in Warren Park.

Bob got his start in the grocery business working for his father at the P & K Market in Lawrence, where he purchased the produce from the Farmer’s Market in Downtown Indy, learned butchering from his dad’s head butcher, and represented his dad at Allied Grocer meetings.  He retired from Preston-Safeway Grocery Stores in 1991 after 29 years as a meat manager, meat supervisor, and meat plant supervisor. He was well-liked and respected by the men and women who worked for him.

Honest to a fault, a good judge of character, intelligent, and always interested in current world and local events, Bob was hard-working and taught his daughters by example that “a job worth doing is worth doing well.”

He loved history, and he liked to read.  He took the family on some wonderful vacations by car to see various parts of this country, including a drive to California by way of the Grand Canyon and Salt Lake City, culminating in a week in San Francisco at his sisters’ where they were given a royal tour of the area; the fabulous New York World’s Fair in 1964; Washington, D.C.; Holland, Michigan;  and Florida to name some of the highlights.  For their 25^th wedding anniversary Bob and Lee took a two-week tour of Europe, a big deal for two kids who grew up during the Great Depression.

Over the years, he and Lee spent many Saturday nights playing cards and enjoying the company of close friends, gathering in one another’s homes.  They attended Post Road Christian Church where they also developed some good friendships with other members of the seniors’ Joy Class.

After the passing of his wife, Bob moved to North Ridge Gracious Retirement Living in 2019.  His family would like to thank the management there for providing a safe and caring atmosphere where Bob could live independently in his own apartment but have plenty of support. It’s a great facility with warm, friendly residents who went out of their way to make him feel welcome.

The family would also like to thank the IU Care Management team, IU North and Methodist Hospitals, as well as the VA Hospital Audiology Department, and all the others who helped or cared for him in the past year.

Bob lived a long and healthy life, maintaining his clear thinking and that occasional bit of wit that always came as a surprise.  His family will miss him, but they know he no longer suffers, and for that they are thankful.  Rest in peace!

A private service is being held per his wishes.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the DAV (Disabled American Veteran’s Charitable Service Trust), P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250.