Robert Joss

Robert Joss, 92, of Indianapolis passed away on Sept. 3. His wife of 65 years, Margaret, was with him.

A Halloween baby born in Sarnia, Ontario, Bob came to the United States with his mother and sisters following the death of his father. He grew up in Fort Wayne, Louisville and Chicago. Bob attended Howe Military School and was a dedicated alumnus. He earned his undergraduate degree from Indiana University and his master’s from Butler University.

After being denied enlistment in the US Navy because he had a Canadian birth certificate, Bob was drafted into the US Army. Following his service, he enrolled at IU and drove trucks to pay for college. One summer in Fort Wayne, his boss suggested he give Margaret a ride home from work. Bob impressed Margaret on their first date by taking her to see his former girlfriend play softball. Nevertheless, Margaret transferred to IU to be with him that fall and married him in December. When they graduated from IU, they moved to Indianapolis.

Bob started his career in public relations at L.S. Ayres, then found his true calling as a teacher in Indianapolis Public Schools. He steered the family station wagon on many cross-country trips, and loved to cook and do house projects. He was a faithful member of First Trinity Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran churches and an active community volunteer, including being a poll worker for many elections.

Bob attended more than 70 Indianapolis 500 races. He was also a devoted, though often disappointed, fan of IU football and basketball.

After retiring, he was a longtime volunteer in the paleontology lab at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, where he showed dinosaur bones to children. In his Santa suit, Bob popped up at friends’ holiday parties, children’s gatherings and on occasion, his kids’ workplaces. Bob and Margaret traveled extensively and spent cold months in Siesta Key, Florida.

Bob is survived by his wife Margaret; children Liz Joss and her husband Jim Thomason, Rob Joss and his wife Deana Joss, Mary Lyski and her husband Jim Lyski; as well as grandchildren Alex, Fred and Mayde Joss; Nat Thomason and his son Axel; Cole and Max Lyski; and cousins Connie Gigax and Penny Handshaw. He will also be missed by numerous nieces and nephews, friends, neighbors, and former students.

The family is grateful to the staff of Sunrise on Old Meridian for their kindness and care to both Bob and Margaret.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Bob. Visitation is Wednesday, Sept. 8 from 4-7 at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, 9700 Allisonville Rd., Indianapolis. The memorial service is Thursday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m. at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 2201 E. 106th St., led by Pastor David Hewitt. Internment and a luncheon at Oaklawn will follow. All are welcome, which was Bob’s guiding philosophy.

In Bob’s memory, please consider a gift to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to support the paleontology program or to Miracle Place in Indianapolis.