Robert "Bob" J. Coyle

Robert “Bob” J. Coyle, 82, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Monday, January 1, 2024, at Prairie Heights Healthcare.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 8, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aberdeen, with Father Gregory Tschakert officiating.

A time of fellowship and a luncheon will follow Mass at the parish hall.

Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery following the luncheon.

Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m., Sunday, at the mortuary, with a liturgical wake and rosary at 5 p.m. Visitation continues one hour before Mass at the church.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign up for the online guestbook and also view the service on Schriver’s Memorial Facebook page.

Robert J. Coyle “Bob” was born September 8th, 1941, to Ralph W. and Freda E. (Herr) Coyle in Kampeska, SD, and the world became a kinder, gentler place.  “Bobby” was the youngest of five children.  His loving family lived in Watertown and Summit, SD, until Bobby was in 6th grade when they moved to Aberdeen.  He graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1959.  On August 12, 1961, he married the love of his life, Marilyn Burckhartzmeyer, and they were blessed with three daughters.  After their first daughter was born, Bob attended Northern State Teacher’s College graduating in 1965. He began his 44-year career teaching at Warner High School (2 years), Simmons Jr. High (17 years), during which he received his Master’s Degree in Education in 1973, and finally Aberdeen Central High School until retiring in 1999. He continued to return to the classroom every few years, teaching until the age of 75 because he just loved teaching.  His favorites were algebra, analytical geometry, and calculus. He was always the most patient teacher and made learning math not only enjoyable but fun with his wonderful sense of humor; there’s no “mistrake” about it.  You could tell when he was joking around if you saw his crooked smile.

Being the teacher that he was, his kids and grandchildren say he taught them everything they know, especially life lessons.  One of his most important life lessons was to be empathetic and love everyone unconditionally without judgment. When you talked to Bob, you knew from the start he was a gentleman and a gentle man.  You could feel the compassion in his golden heart and see the kindness in his sweet smile and loving eyes.  Bob lived life to the very fullest every single day, never wasting a day being mad.  Like his nephews said, “We were all better because of him.”

He was such a loving devoted husband to Marilyn for 62 years.  They did everything together, including building the two houses they raised their family in.  Everything Bob built was built to perfection; it was level and square, there was no question about it.  He learned to love the things Marilyn loved, just to spend time together.  Lunches at local restaurants were a daily must for the two of them, sitting for hours talking and becoming friends with everyone they met.  They absolutely loved traveling this beautiful country, taking more road trips than we can count.  Concerts and live shows, along with beautiful scenery and a little bit of gambling, were their favorites. Their love for each other was an inspiration to everyone in their lives.

The greatest joys of Bob’s life were his grandchildren and “the greats.”  You could always see the pride in his eyes and his emotion when he choked up, talking about them or showing you their pictures.  He was always their hero, mentor, teacher and friend, and every memory with him will be cherished in their hearts forever. He will be missed and loved every single day.

Blessed and beyond grateful to have shared his life are his wife Marilyn; his daughters: Roxanne (Scott) Hinze-Mosey of Aberdeen, DeeAnn (Rob) Brandner of Aberdeen, and Melissa Blake of Sioux Falls, his grandchildren; Jared Hinze and Austin Mosey, Montay Blake and Shanaye Blake, his two great-grandchildren; Devion Blake and Ka’Laysia Davis, his many skating grandchildren and his wonderful nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Beverly & Dorothy, and two brothers, Bert & Roger (Roger was killed in the Korean War in 1951 when Bobby was 9, they have waited 73 years to be reunited again in heaven). Rest in heavenly peace. We will always love you.