Robert Carl Stiefel

Robert "Bob" Carl Stiefel, PhD passed peacefully on April 4, 2018 to be with his Lord, with his loving wife, June, by his side. Bob was born on February 12, 1934 to William J. Stiefel, II and Elizabeth Ida Stiefel in Camden, New Jersey. He had a happy childhood and when he was just 6 years old he met his forever love and future wife, June Esther Walker from Abington, PA. His proud parents had instilled a love of education in both of their sons even though neither had themselves gone to college. Bob graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School after breaking a state record in high hurdles, was a member of the National Honor Society, and graduated in the top ten percent of his class.

Bob graduated with a bachelor of civil engineering in 1957 from Drexel Institute of Technology, now known as Drexel University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married his childhood sweetheart, June, that year and together they headed off to Iowa. Bob received his masters degree in mechanics and hydraulics from the State University of Iowa in Iowa City in 1959. His eldest child, Gary, was born that same year. The little family then traveled to Pennsylvania where he taught at Drexel University. Bob received his doctorate degree in environmental engineering from Renssellaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York in 1968. During this time the family grew to include daughters Karen and Lori.

Bob continued his teaching career at Northeastern University in Boston as well as at Drexel until arriving in 1971 to Columbus. He was a Professor in Civil Engineering at The Ohio State University where he was also the Director of the university's Water Resources Center from 1971, until his retirement in 1996. He was faculty advisor to the Chi Epsilon Honor Society for many years. Bob was involved in a variety of research projects and had a passion for teaching. He found that teaching was the most enjoyable part of his job. His students rated him highly and he found them interesting and worked hard to help them succeed. He was a humble man and wanted to ensure that his efforts would benefit others the same way he benefited from those who had influenced him.

Bob was known for his dry wit, his calm demeanor, and his love for his family. He was a faithful Christian and enjoyed singing with his church choirs, first at Northwest United Methodist and most recently with Meadow Park Church of God. He also enjoyed singing in his heritage language of German with the Columbus Maennerchor for many years. He loved to tinker and fix things, a skill he learned from his grandfather and father growing up. When he was 16 he helped his father build a summer cottage on the Rancocas Creek in New Jersey. Many fond family memories were made there in the years to come during lazy summer swims and backyard cookouts.

Robert will be missed dearly by his beloved wife of nearly 61 years, June; son, Gary and wife Sarah Eaton of Carrollton, TX; daughter, Karen Cooper of Upper Arlington, OH; daughter, Lori Stiefel of Pittsburgh, PA; and grandsons, Andrew Stiefel and wife Sarah Pyle, Zachary Stiefel, and Corey Machen. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Elizabeth: and his brother, William J. Stiefel, III of Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is also survived by his brother's wife, Jane Stiefel, and niece, Kathy with husband Tim, and nephew William J. Stiefel, IV.

Family will receive friends from 4-7 P.M. Friday, April 20, 2018 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 1740 Zollinger Rd., Columbus, Ohio. A memorial service will be held at 11 A.M. Saturday, April 21, 2018 at Meadow Park Church of God, 2425 Bethel Road, Columbus, Ohio where family will also receive friends from 10 A.M. until time of service. A reception and luncheon will follow the service at the same location. In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift may be made in Bob's honor to the Meadow Park Church of God Student Scholarship fund or The Ohio State University Civil and Environmental Engineering Scholarship, Fund # 312577. c/o The Ohio State University Foundation, 1480 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43221.