In Memoriam ~ Robert Schenk ’64

Robert Schenk ’64 died on March 17, 2025, at IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

He was born on Sept. 21, 1946, in Hutchinson, Minn., son of the late Richard M. Schenk and Frances A. (Smith) Schenk. His childhood was spent in Stewart, Morton, and Little Falls, Minn. He married Germaine Bole in Chicago on Dec. 27, 1970.

He graduated from Saint John’s Prep School (1964) and Saint John’s University (1968) in Collegeville, Minn. and earned a doctorate in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1977). He taught two years at Glenville State College in West Virginia and was an economics professor at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer from 1974 until he retired in 2010. Beginning in the late 1980s, he created several hundred digital typefaces that are still for sale on the Internet. In 2008 he began a blog called Rensselaer Adventures and for many years reported on whatever interested him about living in Rensselaer. After retirement he enjoyed creating maze books, exploring tessellations, researching family history, and creating typefaces. He was a member of the Board of Directors for CDC Resources from 2011 until 2020, serving three years as president.

He is survived by his wife and five children, Gretchen (Craig) Baker, Baker, Nev., Peter (Sarah), Greenwood, Edward (Corryn Smith), Flagstaff, Ariz., Matthew (Mary), Berea, Ky., and Andrew (Shae), Bloomington, Ill.; two brothers, Richard, Washington state, and Thomas (Patricia), St. Paul, Minn.; and 13 grandchildren, Matthew and Emma Baker, Maria, Claire, Joseph, James, and Daniel, Gregory, Natalie, Bethany, and Emily, and George and Eleanor.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Ingrid; and his sister, Nancy.

Robert’s visitation will be held at Steinke Funeral Home of Rensselaer on April 1 from 3 – 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Augustine Catholic Church the following day, April 2, starting at 10 a.m.

Burial at Mt. Calvary Cemetery will follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Augustine Catholic School and Shriners Hospital for Children.

Steinke Funeral Home is honored to be handling the arrangements.

Memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the Schenk family at www.SteinkeFuneralHome.com.