PLETSCH, Robert Henry was born November 19, 1932, at home in his parent’s farmhouse in Bruce County, Ontario, and died at home, April 22, 2009 in Victoria BC.
He started piano lessons at age 12, and in high school added trumpet to his musical activities. He played in the Walkerton, Ontario city band for several years. He also hitch-hiked to Toronto every two weeks to study pipe organ with Charles Peaker, a well-known organ performer and teacher of the time.
His first organ position was at Streetsville United Church near Toronto. In 1959, he left Canada for Oberline, Ohio, to start on a Bachelor of Music degree at Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he stayed for 2 years. When he no longer could afford to continue there, he attended Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Il., and finished his Bachelor degree at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, where he also received his Master of Arts degree, majoring in church music.
During his university years he married and had 2 daughters by his first wife. His second marriage was to Helen Heeb, who was a voice teacher at Valparaiso University. The left Valparaiso in 1971 to go to Elmira, NY, where Mr. Pletsch became a school music teacher, and taught piano lessons. He also became organist/choirmaster for Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, where his dear friend, the Reverend Delbert Resmer, (who had married him and Mrs. Pletsch in 1970) was the pastor.
They moved to Watertown, NY in 1978, where Mr. Pletsch became the organ/choirmaster for Trinity Episcopal Church. He also taught piano, and pipe organ.
In 1987, he and Mrs. Pletsch moved to Victoria, BC for him to accept the position of organist/choirmaster at St. Barnabas Anglican Church. He stayed at St. Barnabas for 7 years, after which he became the organist/choirmaster at St. John the Evangelist Anglican-Catholic Church a position he held until his death. He also taught music theory and sightsinging at Victoria Conservatory of Music and again taught piano and organ privately.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Helen; two daughters, Nicole Sanders (Joe) of Minnesota and Noelle Fust of Minnesota; a brother, Donald in Ontario; a sister, Marie in California; 3 grandchildren, Bethany, David and Victoria, and several nieces and nephews.
A Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 11:00 am in the Cathedral Church of St. John the Evangelist (Anglican-Catholic Church), 990 Falmouth Rd.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John the Evangelist Church in memory of Robert Pletsch.
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Rodney Weed
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Philip Gavitt I’m so sorry for your loss. I was Bob’s student some forty years ago at Holy Family in Park Forest, Illinois, when he was a grad student at Valparaiso. He was a warm, wonderful, encouraging mentor in every respect, and the love he inspired for the King of Instruments and its music will always stay with me and be a source of joy and consolation.
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David Goodenough Dear Helen, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I remember Bob from the days when we toured America and Canada with Nigel Speak and the Hutton Grammar School Chamber Choir. When we visited Watertown back in the 80s, I remember Bob allowing me to sit playing that magnificent organ for hours on end and his enthusiasm for my playing was boundless. I have never forgotten that evening and Bob’s huge encouragement. I was staying with Nigel in France last week and we spoke about you and Bob and that’s what prompted me to surf the net hunting for you for you both. I was so sorry to read that Bob passed away a couple of months ago. Please accept my sincere condolences.
David Goodenough
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Rev. Mr. Christopher G. Morash Helen….I am so sorry hear of Bob’s death. Please know of my prayers for you in this very painful time.
May Bob rest in peace and rise in glory!
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Rev. Mr. Christopher G. Morash Helen….I was so sorry hear of Bob’s death. Please know of my prayers for you in this very painful time.
May Bob rest in peace and rise in glory!
The Rev. Deacon Chris Morash
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Judy Harbold Bob’s music could bring tears to my eyes. I have no doubt that he will continue to make heavenly music and will be welcomed by those who have gone before him. We will miss him and send love and caring concern to Helen, his daughters and many faithful friends.
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Simon and Kathy Phillips Helen,
I was very sad to hear that Bob had passed away. He was a wonderful man and it was an honor and priviledge to know him. He was a wonderful example of a very loving husband and it was a joy to see how much you loved and cared for each other over the years. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
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Barb Borrelli I always thought that Helen and Bob were such a perfect couple. I am so sad to hear that Bob has passed away. My sincere condolences go out to Helen – and prayers for her own health too…
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Charlotte & Dave Brocklseby Dear Helen;
We are so sorry to learn of Bob’s death. Please accept our most sincere condolences.
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Vicki Kuhl Please accept my sincere condolences.
I met Bob once at the lovley little church on Falmouth when Marie was here to visit and I heard him play.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Vicki Kuhl]
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Jeff Hoogendoorn Helen,
I was honoured to have known Bob for the past 10 years. As a man of faith, principles and devotion he was an inspirational human being and a positive Christian role model. God bless you as you continue your journey without Bob beside you yet always with you in your memories.Jeff Hoogendoorn
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sheila grigg Dear Helen, how sad I was to read of Robert’s death. You and Robert were such a joyful part of my job at the music store. I know that the Church and Robert’s students will miss him greatly, but not more than you. Please know that I am thinking of you, and wish you peace. Sheila Grigg
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sheila grigg Dear Helen, How sad I was to read of Robert’s death. You and Robert were such a joyful part of my job at the music store. I know the Church and all his students will miss him in their lives, but you the most. Please know that I am thinking about you, and wish you the best. Sheila Grigg, formerly of the music store.
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Nora Brunner My Dear Helen,
I am so sad for you my dear. Wish I could be there with you. Know that Rod and I send our thoughts and prayers to you dear. Also know that we send our love to you.Rod and Nora Brunner
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Donna Taylor Dear Helen,
It is with real regret that I type this message. Dave, I, and our children enjoyed being with you and Bob for so many wonderful
fun-loving times. We all have wonderful memories that we will hold dear in the years to come. Bob and Dave can sing and tell jokes together now in Heaven. You take care and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Donna
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Cynthia and the staff from 4A South Well will miss Bob and his wonderful smile , the stories about his life and love of music. He was a tremendous person who touched all of us during his stays with us!! He will be missed dearly!
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Katharine Ellis Dear Helen,
So sorry to hear that Robert died. He was a wonderful,warm man with such a deep knowledge and love of church music. It was a joy to listen to him. He was always so proud of you and so encouraging to your students.
With sympathy from
Katharine Ellis
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Priscilla Yuen Helen,
I am sorry to hear that Bob passed away. I was planning on dropping by sometime in early May when I come home from school in Toronto. Now, with my regrets, I will not be able to say my last good-byes.
Bob was a great piano teacher who put a lot of passion and enthusiasm into music. He was always very supportive and patient with his students. Everytime I saw him, he had a smile on his face like nothing could bring him down. I will miss him a lot!!
With deepest sympathy,
Priscilla
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Duane Taylor “Aunt” Helen and Family,
My deepest sympathy goes out to you and your family. I have fond memories of “Uncle” Bob and his wonderful smelling pipe tobacco. His talent has made a great impact on so many people and I consider myself very fortunate to be one of those. He will be missed! Although I can’t open a hymnal or sing around a campfire without thinking of him! Ya’ll are in my prayers. With deepest Sympathy, Duane
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Paul & Zuzana Helen and family,
we are so deeply sorry about your loss.
Our thoughts are with you,
Love Paul & Zuzana
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Alice Jean Helen and family,
How saddened I was to hear of Bob’s death yesterday. I have such fond and happy memories of him and the time we all spent together at Trinity. He was the consummate church musician, fabulous host(loved those after choir nights at your house) and dear friend to all of us. I think of both you often. My heart goes out to you as do my prayers.
With love,
Alice Jean
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Patricia Taniashvili My children (Matt and Becky, who were toddlers with Nicole and Noelle back in the early 70s) and I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to Bob’s family. He and my husband were musicians in college, and we all spent time together during those years in Valpo. You might say that we were all young together, and even though we’re now separated by time and space, it’s hard to say good-bye. Bob, we’ll miss you.
With sympathy,
Pat, Matt, and Becky
This is three years late but I still wanted to express my sympathy at Mr. Pletsch’s memory. I was an organ student of his between 1967 and 1969 while he was working on his Masters at Valparaiso and I was a Capuchin Cleric at the Capuchin Friary in CrownPoint, Ind. He was the finest organ teacher I had and he left a very deep impression on me. Sadly I lost contact with him after I left CrownPoint. Over the years I have thought of him often but it was only with the coming of the Internet that I was able to search for him. Tonight he popped in my mind and I found this obituary. To all his loved ones I wish to express my sympathy. He touched my life and music in a very special way and will never be forgotten.