Robert W. Hirsch, Jr.

After 16 heroic years of struggle with the aftereffects of a surgically repaired dissected aorta, Robert Weston Hirsch, Jr. found peace on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. There’s little doubt he was escorted on his final journey by the same angels he said were looking after him in the operating room 16 years ago. Bob loved life, the Lord, and everyone who took the time to talk with him. He was joyful, giving, and enjoyed making others smile or laugh. Authors William Yeats and Melanie Shawn probably described Bob best: “He never met a stranger. Every person in the world, to him, was just a friend he hadn’t met yet.” He delighted in handing out candy to everyone in his apartment building and giving kisses on the hand to every lady, nurse/caregiver/waitress he encountered. He loved: telling jokes, fishing for trout and bluegills, baseball (especially the Kalamazoo Growlers), volunteering at St. Luke’s and St. Tim’s churches, spending time at the Baldwin cottage, smoking his corn cob pipe filled with cherry pipe tobacco, and all kinds of music (especially live performances of the band Who Hit John and the Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra). Bob was a self-taught craftsman, who could fix anything he attempted. He never met a project he wouldn’t tackle. His primary career was installing and repairing heating and cooling systems. Bob was born on March 29, 1937 to Winnifred May (Sleeman) and Robert W. Hirsch Sr. He served in the U. S. Army from 1959 to 1961, a year of which was spent in South Korea. Bob was preceded in death by his daughter, Tina, and sister, Mary Lou Mast. He is survived by daughter, Kelly (Steven) Leversee of Kalamazoo; grandchildren Lindsay Sztojka, Courtney (Joseph) Bartnick, Ashley Hamlin, and Kelsey Bushman; 3 great grandchildren; brother Mark (Susan) Hirsch of Vicksburg, and sisters, Deborah Hirsch of Mattawan, and Patricia Snead of Kalamazoo; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends will be received Saturday, October 23, 2021 at Redmond Funeral Home, 4100 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo at 1:30 pm with a service at 2:00 pm. Any stories you’d like to share about Bob during the service will be welcomed. Friends are invited to the Lubritorium, 5207 Portage Road, for live music, fellowship and refreshments following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of SW Michigan or Open Door.