Robert Andrew Arose

Robert “Bob” Andrew Arose, Jr., 67, of Punxsutawney, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on December 11, 2024.

Born in Long Branch, New Jersey, on May 22, 1957, a son of the late Robert Andrew Arose, Sr. and Estelle L (Rommel) Arose.

Bob lived a typical American childhood, at age seventeen his father became ill and Bob enlisted in the United States Army in order to send money back to his mother to see her through raising the rest of his siblings.  When he was twenty-three, he met his future wife, Diane.  They raised five boys in a quintessential 80’s -90’s American generation-full of turmoil, love and adversity.  After his honorable military discharge, Bob worked in security and would often carry two jobs to support his growing family.  Bob and his family moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania where he began to work at a lumber yard in Brookville.

Hardships had taken their toll, divorced, he began life as a single parent of half his boys.  Tragedy struck in a workplace accident that left Bob with one hand.  He never let it affect him, nor did he complain.  After the accident, he made the move to Punxsutawney where he set out to reinvent himself.  At forty-seven years old, he met his lifetime companion, Linda Kerestesy, they have been inseparable ever since.  He worked at the DMV in Punxsutawney, taking pictures of people for their driver’s license.  He would say “you can smile if you like” in a way that led to an epidemic of smiling toothy grins on driver licenses.

Words could never be enough to capture the rich and full life that Bob was living.  He loved to make others smile and laugh.  Bob loved to joke around with his kids.  His excitement over the gag would often make his face betray his intention.  Whenever his kids were unsure if he was joking or being serious, they merely had to look at his face and determine if his mustache was dancing as he tried to force down the smile that was overtaking him.

In addition to Linda, he is survived by five sons, Robert A. Arose, III and Lisa of Brookville, John Arose of Punxsutawney, Stephen Arose and Serenity of Reynoldsville, Ryan Arose and Jenn of Punxsutawney, and Andrew Arose and Matthew of North Dakota; two brothers, Walter Arose and Trish, Billy Arose; three sisters, Frannie Waller, Patricia Grillo and Cynthia Pace; two grandchildren Emelia and Deandra Arose; adopted granddaughter, Phoenix Sharp and her mother, Carrie Kerestesy.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at the Anchor Inn.  Funeral arrangements entrusted to Shumaker Funeral Home, Inc., Punxsutawney.

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