Robert D. Touse

Robert D. Touse, beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and professor, was welcomed into Heaven on February 15, 2024. Born in his Grandmother's parlor in Camden, Michigan, in 1926, Bob grew up in Jackson. A graduate of Michigan State University in Forestry, Bob worked in industry in Gainesville, Florida, and Brewton, Alabama. He joined Ohio State in 1962 to develop the Forest Industries Program in the School of Natural Resources. He was beloved by many students whose careers shaped the industry and who survived his 8am classes. Bob continued to hear from numerous students about his impact on their careers up until the week of his passing at nearly 98. Bob's two canoe paddles are packed with graduate's signatures and reside at a forest industries professional organization. He often said, it's better to be remembered for what you believed in than what you did, and it was the hand of the Lord, not him. Bob was greeted in Heaven by his wife of 67 years, Jane Wagner Touse, and granddaughter Mary Therese Bastaja. He joined his children Susan, Ann, and Paul Touse, sister and brother Jane and Phil Touse, cousin Philip Keller Sr., and numerous other friends and family. Bob is survived by twin daughters Sue Bastaja and Sara Shunkwiler, son-in-law Jeff Shunkwiler, grandsons and their wives Andrew Shunkwiler and Susan Nembhard, Matthew and Emily Shunkwiler, and Robert Bastaja; niece Terri Touse Brafford and daughter Morgann; brother-in-law Albert and Nancy Wagner, nieces Joy Wagner Prettyman and Joan Wagner Kinghorn and their families, and cousin Betty Keller and family. Donations in Bob's memory can be made to the Robert D. Touse and William F. Cowen, Jr. Endowment Fund in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University to support a future Forestry student. You can donate at The Ohio State University Foundation, PO Box 710811, Columbus, OH 43271 or give online at https://www.giveto.osu.edu and search the Fund #667360. You can connect with Sara (Touse) Shunkwiler through LinkedIn for more information. Thank you for your many letters with stories of Dad's antics in the classroom and his impact on your careers!! Sara followed in his footsteps and shifted from engineer working in industry to STEM professor and engineering course designer at Johns Hopkins University. Educators may never know the impact that we make on someone's life or an industry. But sometimes we are blessed to find out in our own lifetime. No services are planned, because Bob's students, friends, and family told him how much he meant to us while he was alive.

Robert D. Touse

July 22, 1926 - February 15, 2024