Sunday, November 3, 2019

My son, Robert Jeremy Erskin

Robert was born March 3,1975 in Alma, Michigan and passed away September 16, 2019 in Grand Haven, Michigan. I grieve the death of my son, Robert, every day.  Losing a child is a trauma that never goes away.

I remember the day he was born and the wonder of his sweet little face.  When they brought him to me from the nursery, I unwrapped his blankets and checked him all over, counting and kissing his little fingers and toes. I put his sweet face to my breast and gave him my mother's milk and reveled in the warm love between mother and child.  He was a sweet gentle child with a hardy laugh for a 5 months old.

When he was four he was sent to pre-school.  He was so excited one day when he came home with a song to sing for me. "I'm bring home a baby dinosaur".  It was so cute !  At the end of the year, I attended his "graduation" from pre-school  It was so precious to see him in in his "robe and paper plate cap" complete with tassel.

I was proud when he sang "All day, all night, angels watching over me my Lord" at the Church of God Christmas pageant, with a group of other children all dressed up as angels.  He would sing that song over and over for months to come.

I walked with him to his first day of kindergarten. That was in 1980. He went to Carrie Knause Elementary - the same as almost everyone in the family, including me.

I worried over his swollen finger on the day he put his little finger into a hole on the bottom of his metal firetruck he got for Christmas - and couldn't get it back out.  I wrung my hands as Grandpa Lott cut him out of the truck with metal snips while simultaneously being grateful that Grandpa Lott was practiced at it from his job.  He had not a snip of his skin or a drop of blood when Grandpa Lott was done. We were so thankful that day to have such a wonderful Grandpa living just across the back yard from our house.                                                                                                                

I volunteered to be Bobby's den mother and we had a good time earning badges, singing songs, going to pack meetings, and going to the pine wood derby.

I cheered at all of his sport games from pee-wee to high school.  For little league baseball we helped Bob sell candy to finance the league. For scouts we helped him sell popcorn.

The whole family celebrated his high school graduation in 1993. While we watched him receive his diploma, we cheered and clapped our hands.  We gave Bob a big open house later that month and many of our friends and family gathered to help us acknowledge his accomplishment.  I put together a couple of collages of his childhood pictures and set up his senior pictures for display.  I made and decorated a graduation cake. I was so proud of my handsome, gentle, smart boy.
   


I watched him in 5th grade as he found a new affection for a cute little girl.  I watched as they grew up together, going to school dances together, school games and other various functions. Her a cheer leader, he a football player. I watched as he fell in love with Lynn, married her and had children of his own. I was so happy when he brought his family to me on holidays where we celebrated being one big happy family with big meals, gifts and love.

Robert was the 3rd of my five children,  all shown in the picture below with his step dad at the head of the table. He is holding his monkey puppet, which he loved so much.

I taught my children that all children are innocent and deserving of love and affection. And to accept half, step, etc. into their families and to love them as their own. I know that Bob would have been a good step dad.


Thursday, September 19, 2019

My son Robert


My son
Robert Jeremy Erskin

Robert J. Erskin 
Bob, Bobby


March 3, 1975 - September 16th, 2019


Bob Erskin, age 44, of Grand Haven Mi. passed away Monday, September 16th, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 3rd, 1975 and raised in St. Louis, Michigan the third son of Aleta (Thrush) and Howard Kenneth Erskin.  


Bob Graduated From St. Louis High School, Class of ‘93 a Shark through and through!
He went on to marry his High School SweetHeart, Lynn Nelson, after which they moved to Grand Haven where he began his career as Tool/Die maker and was last working for Transmatic of Holland Mi. Bob fathered two amazing children that he was very proud of, Kelsey(24) and Kelvin(17). Bob served Pack 3014 of Spring Lake, Mi. as the Cubmaster, while his son Kelvin was a Cub Scout. However, as life happens and nothing stays the same, Lynn and Bob divorced and moved on with their lives each getting remarried in their own time.
On October 22nd, 2016 Bob married Stacey Scanlan of Grand Haven, Mi.


In his free time Bob enjoyed hobbies such as fishing, and woodworking, reading and sometimes writing. His last story was a mystery and has left us all in suspense.
Spending time with friends and family was important to Bob, he always went out of his way to make sure his loved ones knew he cared.


Bob is Survived and will be deeply missed by his Wife, Stacey Scanlan, of Grand Haven;
His Daughte,r Kelsey (Tom) Savard of Muskegon; His Son, Kelvin, of Grand Haven; His Mother Aleta (Rusty) Thrush-Robinson, of Elk Rapids; The mother of his children Lynn (Tom) Scott,and their daughter Faith, of Grand Haven; His Older Brothers Timothy (Niel) Erskin, of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Kenneth (Chrissy) Erskin, of Saratoga Springs, New York; His Younger Brother Ryan Lott of Elk Rapids Mi; and his Baby Sister Rebecca (Mike) Little of Alma, Mi.
Along with 3 Nieces, 4 Nephews, a Great Nephew, and a Great Niece.
He is also survived by his parents in-law Dan and Carol Scanlan of Grand Haven; Sister-in-law Nicki (Tim) Tiefenbach and their daughter Finnley; his life long best friend Aaron (Jody) Wenzlick of St. Louis, Mi.; and So many more who loved Bob like family! 
Bob was preceded in death by his father Howard Kenneth Erskin, his Step-Father David Randall Lott Sr, Grandparents: Milton and Mattie Erskin, Wilford and Beulah Thrush, and Francis and Alice Lott.


A memorial service for Bob was be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 28th, 2019 at the First Presbyterian Church of Grand Haven with Rev. Kristine Aragon Bruce officiating. Visitation was from 6-8pm on Friday, September 27th at Klassen Family Funeral Home.  


Memorial Contributions can be made to his son Kelvin’s College fund through the Michigan Education College Fund (MESP) Or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network



   Bob's high school football picture.
        
St. Louis, Michigan
Sharks

Fight St, Louis, fight St. Louis
Fight for our old high.
She's the greatest and the highest
Fame will never die.
Fight fight fight
Fight St. Louis, Fight St. Louis
On the field and track.
Fight for the honor of the crimson and black.

Fight!!