COLUMBUS, IN
Robert William Wire, age 80, left his earthly life on April 18, 2024, at home, surrounded by his loving family. Bob leaves behind his beloved spouse of nearly 52 years, Joyce Kemple Wire, and their daughter, Elisabeth, who was the apple of his eye. In addition, he is survived by his brothers, Michael Wire of Carmel and Patrick (Sara) Wire of Indianapolis, step-sister Lydia (Don) Bogemann of Greenfield, cousin Loren (Liz) Wire of Columbus, brothers-in-law Michael (Rita) Kemple of Shelbyville and Joseph and Richard (Noreen) Kemple of Rush County, and many nieces and nephews. His feline family, Miss Bossy, Pluto, Jupiter, and Bear, are also missing him.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, on February 1, 1944 to Robert S. Wire and Aileen Weaver Wire, Bob moved to Indianapolis as a child. He spent his early life assisting his father with building and tuning pianos. He graduated from Emmerich Manual High School in 1962 and as a lifelong learner, went on to attend Indiana University, IUPU Columbus, and Ivy Tech. Bob enjoyed traveling for work, and was able to spend time in Mexico, the U.K. and Germany before retiring in 2010 as a dimensional metrologist after 46 years with Cummins Engine Company.
Bob was a talented musician, both as a singer and in his early years, a trombonist. He played many live shows and even recorded at Chess Records in Chicago. He was also a gifted photographer and an avid reader. He had a never-ending thirst for knowledge and especially enjoyed learning about astronomy and other sciences.
Bob enjoyed tennis, racquetball, skateboarding, and sailing in his earlier years and played competitive volleyball well into his 60s. He enjoyed hiking and spending time in nature, but his great love was bicycling. He rode every day that the weather allowed (and some days when it didn’t) and competed in the Hope Ride for many years as well as the Hilly Hundred.
Bob had a great love of children, and was a hands-on father. He volunteered with Big Brothers and later led his daughter’s Girl Scout troop (#276), placing an emphasis on teaching them a love of sports, adventure, science, and the arts. Generations of children affectionately knew him as Ranger Bob or Uncle Bob.
Even while enduring Alzheimer’s, he never lost his sense of humor that endeared him to his family, friends, and caregivers from Griswold Home Care and Our Hospice.
Purple was Bob’s favorite color and is (fittingly) the color for Alzheimer’s. If you would like, wear a touch of purple to the funeral.
Visitation will be at Moster Mortuary, 334 N. Main Street, Rushville, Indiana on Saturday, April 27 from 9:30 – 11 am, followed by a celebration of life at 11 am. Burial will be at Arlington East Hill Cemetery, Arlington, Indiana.
Arrangements entrusted to Moster Mortuary.
