Ernest Robert "Bob" McFarland Jr. Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Bob McFarland, born Ernest Robert McFarland Jr. in Toledo, Ohio, died at 81 years old on May 17, 2022, in Fort Myers Beach, FL, surrounded by family. Bob absolutely adored his family. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 58 years, Marlene (Lechlak) McFarland, children Kelley McFarland, Trisha Rosado, and Bobby McFarland, son-in-law Amaury Rosado, grandchildren, Justin and Nathan Rosado, and sister Joyce (Al) Versprille and many other family and friends. Bob grew up in Toledo Ohio as a proud “mama’s boy” as it was no secret how much he adored his Mother Louise. He always told her he would work hard and take care of her one day. He took his first job as a paperboy at age 10 and worked on the docks so he could be close to fishing and boats. He grew up in a household with his progressive single working Mother and sister Joyce Versprille until Lew Abdo joined the family. After returning home from serving in the Navy, he met his future wife, Marlene Lechlak. Bob was at Lew’s night club, the Carousel in Toledo, when he spotted Marlene on the dance floor and asked her to dance. You might know Bob is not known to dance often, but he was motivated and if he danced, he danced with Marlene. It wasn’t long before he decided that she was the one for him. It was love at first sight. They were inseparable ever since. After they married, Bob was working at General Mills and going to college while they started their family together. Marlene loves the day that Bob graduated from Toledo University (BS Engineering) with his kids present and both sides of the family all proudly celebrating the first college graduate of the family. The joining of the Lechlak and McFarland family made for a large bunch with many festive Christmas celebrations and yep, more fishing. His father-in-law Leonard Lechlak became a fishing buddy and mother-in-law Wilma Lechlak treated him like one of her own. Together this weaved a family of countless (okay maybe 100) parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, grandkids, and greats, many of whom came to know each other over the years. This was a joy for Bob who came from a small family. Trisha and Kelley feel incredibly blessed to have had such a supportive father that encouraged them to follow their passions and become the independent woman they are today. He always told his kids “I’m confident you can do anything you put your mind to.” Bob was proud and the biggest fan of each of his three children. Bob diligently searched for the ideal Africa trip for Kelley after her College graduation that cemented her decision to pursue graduate school and study of gorillas. After she returned, he provided space in his office for her to research her next steps. At the finish line he waited patiently for the last pages of her dissertation to print so he could take it to be copied and submitted. To say that Bob was a hard worker is an understatement. Working was not “work” for Bob. He truly found reward in the engineering projects and the products he manufactured whether it was at the Kal Kan division of Mars in Columbus OH and Vernon CA or his own engineering firm in Mission Viejo CA. In his later years, many of his construction projects won design awards. He was eager to solve problems and create new solutions. He was an innovator with a can-do approach. His daughter Trisha who also worked in the food industry enjoyed his many business stories and phone calls for advice and encouragement. His son Bobby also followed in his father’s footsteps by opening his own construction company before working as a city inspector. Bob was grateful to meet great people at work and home while living in Worthington Hills, Mission Viejo and Fort Myers that became their extended family and life-long friends. He retired in Fort Myers Beach just 2 miles from best friends Christine and Peter Diol. Peter, Dick, and his other friends from Worthington Hills shared his passion for boating and made great fishing partners, along with every member of his family and anyone else that would take up his invitation. For Bob, fishing was an event, not a serious sport (most of the time) from the finding the best spot, catching, fileting and finally the epic ‘fish fry’ that once again brought family and friends together. Because of him, family vacations and weekend outings were a mainstay for the family. Boats and fishing in Lake Erie and beaches in Florida and California were their playgrounds. On family fishing trips, he spent most of his time baiting hooks and unhooking fish that he rarely got his line into the water. But he always had a smile on his face. Bob was a fix it guy. He will try to fix your boat for you, fix something at your house and do whatever you ask him to help with. He also had a way of getting others to help him. He would start with a simple request for you to cut some wood and ends up building a house with the neighbors and family nail by nail. That pretty much sums him up. Bob was healthy and thriving until the last few years when he became ill with progressive dementia. He did not want to be in a nursing home, so Marlene diligently cared for him at home, which became more challenging in the last 6 months. His son Bobby lovingly bought him the perfect comfy chair and the best mattress. Bob had a lot of visitors since Kelley and Trisha had more flexibility with work location these past few years. He attended the wedding of Justin and Lea last May in Chicago. Bob enjoyed fresh red snapper “Chef Amaury” style. He got to geek out on the Buckeyes and football news with Nate. Justin and Lea visited recently and cooked for their grandparents, including some of his favorite foods. Bob’s heart shut down unexpectedly during a short hospital stay. It seems he decided it was just time to be “gone fishing”. He leaves behind loving family and friends who enriched his life greatly. We invite you to share your stories and join in celebrating and honoring Bob McFarland by posting on the site. The family is planning a private memorial in June. Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) in Bob’s honor. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home, Family Owned Since 1978.

Ernest Robert "Bob" McFarland Jr.

January 3, 1941 - May 17, 2022