Robert Charles HostetterMay 12, 1944 – January 16, 2025
Bob Hostetter, long-time Park Forest resident, passed away January 16, 2025, at the age of 80. He had a tattoo that read "I'm just lucky that way," and so he was. He took pleasure in the ordinary parts of living music, food of all types, sports, trivia, the History Channel, and rescue dogs. He was especially proud of being over 55 years sober. Bob had a special fondness for yellow labs, but he and his wife of 52 years were known to bring home the neediest dogs in the shelter (most recently a bonded pair of senior collies). They were early advocates of animal rescue before Rescue had a name.
Bob's love of music was legendary. His default answer to travel was "yes!" and his most recent vacation was a pub tour of folk music in Ireland.
Despite a sometimes mercurial temperament, Bob was unabashedly sentimental, especially toward family and friends. He was unreserved about saying "I love you" and was the first to raise his hand to help anyone with anything, especially when it came to driving. It wouldn't have been too much to ask him to drive cross-country if that's what you needed. In fact, to the next generation, Bob was aka UBT – Uncle Bob's Taxi.
Bob is survived and will be deeply missed by his wife Lynne; their children, Rachel Martin and Michael (Kari) Hostetter; and grandchildren, for whom his adoration was unmatched, Ginger, Zeke, Jolee, and Nori. Bob is also survived by his sister Susan Janke and brother Jeff Hostetter; numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews; and lifelong friends. He is predeceased by his brother Jim Hostetter, brother-in-law Paul Janke, and all the dogs he ever loved Cinder, Blaze, Goldie, Digby, Spencer, Maddie, Otis, Bella, Buddy, and the remarkable Pauly (who was surely the first to greet him on the other side).
Memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Lain-Sullivan Funeral Home, 50 Westwood Drive, Park Forest, IL to be followed by Mass at St. Veronica's Church, 1131 Douglas Ave, Flossmoor, IL at 10 a.m.
