Robert Leslie “Thack” Thacker, 95, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. passed away Friday, Sept.23, 2022, surrounded by his loving daughters and family.
Bob was born on July 5, 1927, to Benjamin and Anna (Crites) Thacker in Malden, Missouri. He married the love of his life, Agnes (Peg) Krapf on April 29, 1950, in Poplar Bluff at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They were married 62 years and raised a beautiful and devoted family together.
Bob proudly joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 at the young age of 17, after graduating high school a year early. He was sworn in on his 18th birthday and was stationed on the U.S.S. White Plains battleship during WWII in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Pacific, the largest naval battle ever fought. He was most proud of his military service. Bob was employed by the Daily American Republic and retired after 50 years of hard work and dedicated service.
Over the years, he was a coach, mentor, and friend to countless athletes in little league baseball and men’s fastpitch softball to name a few. He devoted countless hours, giving advice and life lessons to so many to help them excel in their sports and in their lives, and developed friendships that lasted a lifetime. Bob became one of the founding members of the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame, which can be visited in the Poplar Bluff Museum on Main Street. His two favorite sports teams were the St. Louis Cardinals baseball and Kentucky Wildcats basketball, and he proudly flew their flags on his front porch for all to see. Bob and Peg spent their honeymoon at a Cardinal’s game and over the years he ended up attending over 300 games (yes, he counted them in his little notebook that he always carried in his pocket). He was an avid reader and could be seen most days sitting on the front porch with a book and waving to all that would drive by and honk. Bob had a joy for everything in life, while bringing happiness and laughter to everyone who had the honor to know him. He was a true patriot, and pillar of the community who will be missed by so many.
Bob is survived by his six loving daughters: Rebecca Sparkman (Terry), Villa Ridge, Missouri; Lee Ann Landrum (Jim), Centerton, Arkansas; Dina Rhodes (Scott Preslar), Dana Tuggle, Leslie Lewis (Phillip), all of Poplar Bluff; and Jane Butler (Daken), Dexter, Missouri. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, Tony Tuggle (Molly), Christine Wickes (Chuck), Michelle Bass (Aaron), Jimmy Landrum (Deb), Nathan Sparkman (Julie), Phillip Rhodes (Cindy), Lauren Taylor (Morgan), Paige Sheehy (Bryant), Alex Lewis, Matthew Butler, and Rachel Butler, 19 great-grandchildren, best friend and running buddy, Roger Cochran, and his adoring cat, Sergio.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his beautiful wife Peg, four sisters and one brother.
Memorial donations can be made to the American Legion Post #153.
The visitation will be from 4:30 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the funeral chapel with family and friends speaking. To honor him being a veteran, the staff of John J Pershing VA Medical Center will be standing outside as the funeral procession drives by on the way to the cemetery. A graveside service with full military honors will follow at 4 p.m. at St. Theresa’s Catholic Cemetery in Glennonville, Missouri.
Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral and Cremation Service is honored to serve the family of Robert Leslie “Thack” Thacker.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.cwrfcs.com.