Robert C. Shaw Jr.
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Robert (Bob) Shaw was born June 8, 1946 in LaPorte, Indiana to Robert and Georgia Shaw. He passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by family, on December 13, 2021. Bob served as President of Knox Fertilizer Inc. and KMB Technology LLC following the passing of his father, Robert Shaw.
Bob was a life-long and proud resident of Knox, Indiana, graduating from Knox High School in 1964, attending Vincennes University, then graduating from Purdue University in 1970. Bob was a leader in the Turf and Ornamental Industry, serving as a founding board member of the Indiana State Lawn Care Association (ISLCA), initiating training programs for Lawn Midwest Regional Turfgrass Foundation at Purdue University, serving two terms as a board member of the United States Fertilizer Institute of Washington D.C., representing the United States Agricultural Industry and the United States Turf and Ornamental Industry. Bob proudly served as a member of the Crown Hill Cemetery Board, a board member of Ancilla College (Donaldson, Indiana), a member of the Starke County Development Foundation, a volunteer fireman at the Bass Lake Fire Department, and a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Bob collaborated with Congressman Floyd Fithian to rewrite the Federal Fungicide, Insecticide, Rodenticide Act that allowed free market competition of blenders in the Turf and Ornamental Industry and the Agricultural Industry. This important legislation eliminated a monopoly created by large corporate chemical companies across the United States, allowing lower costs for plant protectants for agricultural crops, turf, and ornamental applications. His work directly impacted small businesses all over the country and changed the trajectory of the industry for both business owners and consumers.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Georgia Shaw of Knox, Indiana. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Susan (Short) Shaw and their four children Bill (Denise) Shaw of Knox, Mark (Kristen) Shaw of Valparaiso, Laura Shaw of Florida, and Jennifer (David) Theibert of Indianapolis. He is also survived by eight beautiful grandchildren, whom he loved deeply and cherished until the day he passed, Dylan, Logan, Brinley, Matthew, Cooper, Quinn, Archie, and Miles. Bob is also survived by his sister Margo (Jim) Ross of Loudon, TN and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Knox, IN on Saturday, December 18, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CST with a service immediately following. Burial to follow at Oak Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bob and Susan Shaw Scholarship Fund through Purdue University's College of Agriculture. Please make donations online at connect.purdue.edu/shawscholarship or make donations payable to the Purdue Foundation via U.S. mail to: Purdue Foundation: Bob and Susan Shaw Scholarship, 403 W. Wood Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907.