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Robert L Tunis 1932 - 1998

Robert Leroy Tunis of Royalton Twp., Berrien County, MI was born on November 6, 1932 at at home in La Paz, Marshall County, Indiana United States, and died at age 65 years old on April 2, 1998 at at Home in Berrien Springs, Berrien County, MI. Robert Tunis was buried on April 5, 1997 at Spring Run Annex in Royalton Twp..

Robert Leroy Tunis

Bob

Royalton Twp., Berrien County, MI 49103

November 6, 1932

at home in La Paz, Marshall County, Indiana, United States

April 2, 1998

at Home in Berrien Springs, Berrien County, Michigan, 49103, United States

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Robert L Tunis Robert Tunis (1932 - 1998)

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Robert Leroy Tunis' History: 1932 - 1998

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11/6

1932

Birthday

November 6, 1932

Birthdate

at home in La Paz, Marshall County, Indiana United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Robert was the 4th of boy born to Cletus LeRoy and ClaraMae Philipena (Edinger) Tunis and the 6th child born to Clara. Cletus was born in Brennan, Marshall County, IN as his parents (James William and Nancy "Nannie" Alice (Stephens) Tunis were moving across the country from Marion, Ohio to Winamac, IN where other Tunis family members had settled. Clara was from New Buffalo, Berrien County, MI. Tunis line was told to have come to the British American Colony of New York in the early 1700s from Holland. It was said the Stephens family were from Wales (DNA test seems to agree). The Edinger line seems to be a little more clear, there was a biography of her grandfather Phillip Johanas Edinger in the History of Berrien County, Michigan; Phillip came over in 1832 to New York, met Anna Elisabeth Schaaf on the journey and they married upon landing. They moved across the country to Ohio; Chicago, Il; LaPort, IN where they owned several acres of land; then 10 years later settled in New Buffalo, MI where they remained to raise their 15 children, to farm, and run a lumber company. Clara's mother was a Schwenk (Philipena Elizabeth Schwenk), there was also a briefer biography on Philipena's father, Johann Schwenk, he and his wife, Elisabeth Fredericka Reuss came to America via New Orleans, from Hessen, Germany with their eldest son John, moving to Buffalo, New York, then over to New Buffalo, MI.
Religious Beliefs

This is a hard one, as his daughter I was raised is what is called "Northern Conference Baptist" - my parents married at Clay Street Baptist Church in Benton Harbor, MI and later my father was one of several men who spent personal hours building Napier Parkview Baptist Church in Fairplain, Benton Twp., MI. However, while growing up Robert was raised in the Assembly of God or Pentecostal churches. While Cletus was raised with no faith as his father and grandfather were said to be "kicked" out of the Quaker faith. Clara was raised in the Methodist faith, her father being a listed Macabee.
Military Service

Robert was drafted in 1949, and trained at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He was a member of the Crops of Engineers, 2nd Armor Division, Hell on Wheels. He was sent to German, but before his unit was to be sent to Korea the war was over. He did not talk much about his service and the records we did have my mother's niece took and the warehouse for the Army that housed his military records burned down a few decades ago.
Professional Career

Robert like his sisters and brothers worked alongside their parents who were custodians for the Benton Harbor Schools in MI. By the time Robert left school in 11th grade he was working in the Maintenance department of the said schools, raising to Administrator of Maintenance in the late 1960s or 1970s until retirement in the late 1970s, and early 1980s (no dates the recorders at the school were lost in a new administration purging old files, and family records lost to my mother's niece who does not share) While administrator Bob only hired local companies to do the contract work, they cost a little more but when he picked up the phone and said he needed something, it was done right away, not weeks later. Robert was in demand for his work ethic, skill to learn quickly any task, friendliness, and hard work did not turn him off a job. He worked for Ideal Plumbing, Benton Harbor, MI - owner Ben Johnson while still working for the Benton Harbor Schools (becoming friends over the years) He later worked for Beaudoin Electrical out of Benton Harbor, and full-time for Power Engineering out of Mattawan, MI. He had retired fully in 1997 after turning 65 when he just dropped dead of a massive heart attack while talking with an old friend who worked for Hartford Schools (MI).
04/2

1998

Death

April 2, 1998

Death date

Unknown
Cause of death

at Home in Berrien Springs, Berrien County, Michigan 49103, United States
Death location

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04/5

1997

Gravesite & Burial

April 5, 1997

Funeral date
Spring Run Annex in Royalton Twp., Berrien County, Michigan United States
Burial location
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