Robert J. Samper

Holt and Frankfort, Michigan, formerly of East Lansing/Okemos

Robert Joseph Samper was born on October 17, 1944, to Robert and Donna (Burk) Samper in Indianapolis, Indiana. Bob married his beloved wife, Marianne on December 7, 1973. He passed away at MD Anderson Cancer Center Hospital in Houston, Texas, on August 7, 2014, due to complications from lung cancer. Marianne was by his side.

Bob was extremely close to his brother Randy Samper (Cheryl) and sister Nikki Grove (Jim). He was equally close to Marianne's siblings Barbara Blair (Jack), Bill Rollo (Judy), and David Rollo (Heather). He was a beloved uncle to his 8 nieces and nephews and their spouses and loved ones, as well as his 7 great-nieces and -nephews.

After serving three tours of duty in Vietnam, where he was twice-wounded and received several service awards, Bob came to Lansing to finish serving the last months of his Navy service at the Lansing Naval Training Center. Simultaneously he worked in construction and subsequently started his own construction company. His career evolved over the years to include owning a design and furniture studio, co-owning a restaurant in Indianapolis, and ultimately owning his own design consulting business with DTN Management Company as his primary client and second family.

Since 1972, Bob and Marianne spent vacations on Crystal Lake in Frankfort and Beulah, Michigan. In 2001, Bob designed and supervised the building of their second home on the north shore. The “Cottage” with its incredible views of the lake and Bob’s surrounding gardens was their special place of beauty and sanctuary, where they spent as much time as possible with their ever present dogs.

Bob was an immensely creative, artistic, and talented man in many areas. He was known for his beautiful gardens, his gourmet cooking, his oil paintings, the elegant design of his projects and homes, and the joy he found in creating beauty in every aspect of his life.

He will be greatly missed by all of his family, his work family, and the many friends whose lives he has touched. By virtue of all of this as well as his memorable sense of humor, the many homes, commercial buildings and larger developments that he designed in the mid-Michigan area and in other States; he is a man who will not be forgotten.

A memorial visitation will be held Thursday, August 14, 2014, 5-8 pm at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 East Grand River Avenue, East Lansing with sharing of memories at 7 pm. A memorial service will be held Friday, August 15, 2014, 11:00 am, Franklin Community Church, 26425 Wellington Road, Franklin, MI, 48025, with the family receiving friends one hour prior to the service.

During his own cancer treatment in Texas, Bob was heartbroken by the many children he saw there that were suffering from cancer. To honor his memory in that respect, donations in his name can be made for Camp Catch-A-Rainbow through YMCA Storer Camps, www.ymcatoledo.org. Also, in memory of

his love of art and beauty, donations may be made to the Robert J. Samper Memorial Fund at the Oliver Art Center, in Frankfort,MI.www.oliverartcenterfrankfort.com.