Robert Allen Slomka

Robert (“Bob”) Allen Slomka, 89, passed away Tuesday, September 8, 2026, in Fishers, Indiana, holding the hand of his wife, Judith (“Judy”) Slomka. He was born on May 8, 1937, to Joseph and Marie Slomka in Chicago, Illinois, where he spent his whole childhood.

Bob graduated from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and later obtained his master’s degree from Butler University in Indianapolis. In February 1960, Bob joined the United States Marine Corps as part of a pact with a group of his childhood friends, after one of them received a draft notice. While in the Marines, Bob served as a jet engine mechanic with the Marine Air Detachment at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Jacksonville, Florida. Bob was honorably discharged in December 1965.

Bob married his wife Judy (née Lippe) on Sept.16, 1961, and the two remained deeply in love throughout their nearly 65 years of marriage. During the early years of their marriage, Bob and Judy lived in multiple U.S. states, collecting numerous lifelong friends and having their three daughters along the way. The family eventually settled in Indianapolis, where Bob and Judy welcomed their son and became members of St. Matthew Catholic Church.

In addition to his role as a husband and father, Bob worked in the telecommunications industry for over three decades. He was employed by Western Electric, then by AT&T, and finally by Lucent. After quickly becoming bored with retirement, Bob took a position at Charles Schwab, where he worked for two years. However, his boredom did not return following his second retirement, as Bob and Judy shifted their focus towards their steadily growing brood of grandchildren. Despite having so many children, grandchildren, and eventually great-grandchildren, Bob managed to create a unique, personal bond with each one of them.

Bob was also a man with diverse talents and interests, many of which he shared with his family and friends. An avid musician, Bob loved to sing and taught himself to play several instruments including the clarinet, saxophone, guitar, and the accordion. However, his favorite instrument was the piano, on which he could learn to play nearly anything by ear. He played the piano any chance he got, bringing joy through music to himself, his family, his friends, and even complete strangers. Bob also had a lifelong love of fishing, which he developed as a young boy on Cable Lake in Spooner, Wisconsin. Bob and his sisters passed their deep connection to Spooner onto multiple generations of their descendants, many of whom continue to enjoy fishing, skiing, and making memories on Cable Lake. Bob additionally loved playing golf, building and fixing things around the house, reading for information and for pleasure, and spoiling the many dogs he owned throughout his life.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Barbara, and two of his grandchildren Jordan and Wyatt. Bob is survived by his wife, his sister Janet, his four children Laurie (John), Beth, Judy (Brad), and Rob, ten of his grandchildren (Kyle, Jamie, Jessy, Max, Bailey, Riley, Andie, Halle, Casey, and AJ), and his five great-grandchildren (Jaxson, Greyson, Elliot, Oliver, and Josie).

A visitation will be held on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 4:00 to 8:00pm at Flanner Buchanan - Oaklawn Memorial Gardens (ConnerSuite), 9700 Allisonville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46250. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 10:00am at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 4100 E 56th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220. Burial will immediately follow at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew Catholic Church, 4100 E 56th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220.