Robert F. Breese, 95, of Greencastle, Indiana passed away on Saturday May 17, 2025.
He was born on October 3, 1929 in Puyallup, WA to Grace Brown. He was later adopted by Ralph and Mabel Breese of Seattle, WA. His adopted parents passed away in the early 1940s. He then moved to Buffalo, NY, where his uncle, Harold G. Breese became his guardian. He finished grade school in PS 22 in Buffalo and then graduated from Deveaux a private military school in Niagara Falls, NY in 1949.
He entered Rochester Institute of Technology and graduated with an associate degree in Printing in November 1951. He served in the US Army from February 25, 1952 till February 20, 1954, spending 15 months with the 79th Engineer Construction Battalion in Korea. Upon discharge he returned to RIT and received a BS Degree in Printing in November 1955. On January 4, 1956 he started a 32 year career with the IBM Corporation in Greencastle, Indiana.
On August 31, 1957 he married Miriam Cole, a recent graduate from DePauw University in Greencastle. They have three children and four grandchildren. Daughter Lisa Kincaid, who passed in August 2024, grandson Andrew of Fishers, IN. Daughter Amy Collins, husband Michael, grandson Ian and granddaughter Keeley of Clemmons, NC. Son Robert S. Breese, wife Mari and granddaughter Olivia of Patterson, NY. A cousin Kathleen Moore of Florence, SC. Two nieces and two great niece.
Robert is preceded in death by cousins James R. Breese of Rochester, NY, Glenn Breese, John Breese, and Marsha Breese of Buffalo, NY, and sister Barbara Shidell and husband Hal of Yakima, WA.
Breese was active in community affairs serving seven years on the Greencastle Park & Recreation Board during the time the new Greencastle swimming pool was being built. He served five years on the American Heart Association while serving as a CPR instructor. He was also honored to have received the George Washington Honor Medal in 1953 from the Freedom Foundation Valley Forge, PA for winning article on “What America Means to Me”.
Throughout his life some of his greatest joys were to play tennis with his friends, spending many trips fishing in Ely Minnesota with family, and enjoyed spending time with his Saturday morning coffee group. He was also a member of the St Andrews Episcopal Church in Greencastle.
Memorial Service for Robert will be held at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home on Friday June 6, 2025 at 1:00pm. Inurnment to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery with military honors.
Family will receive loved ones from 11:00 am until time of service.
