ROTTERDAM - Robert I. Preusser Sr. went home to His Lord and Savior on July 3, 2010. He was 89 years old. He was born in Albany on September 20, 1920 to the late William R. and Ethel (Vanderpoole) Preusser.
Robert was a 1939 graduate of Roessleville High School in Colonie. He was employed at Huyck Felt Mill in Rensselaer from 1940 to 1982 as an electrician. He served in the US Navy during WWII as a 1st class electrician. He was a longtime member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Colonie where he was a Deacon and Elder. He was head Elder for a time under Rev. Walter G. Litke. In his youth he played on the Albany Twilight Baseball League for 15 years. He was also an avid golfer.
Robert was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Grace (Rowe) Preusser. He is the loving father of Barbara (William) Coons of Schenectady, Robert I. Preusser, Jr. of Cohoes and Cheryl (Frank) Funaro of Mechanicville; and loved as a son, Patrick Farrell of Latham; adored brother of Helen Valet of Colonie; grandfather to Michael (Lisa) Coons, Christina Murray, Vikki (Richard Szmyr) O'Connor, James (Ann Marie Primett) Coons, Robert I. Preusser III, Tara Preusser, Jennifer (Matthew) Schriener, Dominick (Pao-Ching) Funaro, and Sarah (Ryan) Edwards; great-grandfather to Alyssa, Abigail, and Alexis O'Connor, Grace May Szmyr, Matthew and Ryan Coons, Justin Preusser, Thomas Funaro, and Noah and Emily Grace Schriener; and uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at New Comer Cannon Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Rd. Colonie (Rt. 155-south of Central Ave.). Interment will follow at Memory Gardens in Colonie. Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Community Hospice of Schenectady 1411 Union St., Schenectady, NY 12308 in memory of Robert I. Preusser, Sr.