Robert 'Bob' Tillema

Robert J. ‘Bob’ Tillema, age 78, of Wheatfield, passed away on January 28, 2026.

On July 24, 1947, Bob was born to Nickolas and Lois (Hoekstra) Tillema in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Wheatfield High School, class of 1965, received a bachelor degree in accounting from Indiana University, a Bachelors in education from Purdue, as well as a master’s degree in education from Purdue. Bob was an original Kougar; he started teaching at Kankakee Valley in 1970 when it opened. Bob “retired” from the school in 2010, but he was still teaching up until he passed. He is a member of the Kankakee Valley High School Hall of Fame, and was given the Distinguished Service Award for Division One from the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Bob loved being the score keeper for countless basketball games at the high school. His life was one of giving to his community. Bob spent 58 years on the Wheatfield Volunteer Fire Department. He would drive the ambulance for Wheatfield EMS. Bob was a member of the Wheatfield Lions Club, where he performed thousands of eye screenings on elementary students. He was a founding member of the Hoosier School Employees Federal Credit Union, which later was merged into First Trust Credit Union, where he served as the Board President. Bob was a member of First CRC of DeMotte, where he was a former deacon and elder. He was a master tomato grower, an avid fisherman who would take kids ice fishing up in Wisconsin. Bob was a man of the community, a friend, and a lifetime teacher to everyone in his community.

Bob is survived by his siblings: Sue Allen, Jan Tillema, John (Nancy) Tillema, Bill (Heather) Tillema, Linda (Ron) Mikash, and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, and brother-in-law: Dan Allen.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at the Kankakee Valley High School. Services for Bob will start at 6:15 p.m. with a Lions Club service. At 6:30 p.m., Pastor Jim Alblas and Pastor Blake Campbell will officiate the funeral service. A Volunteer Firefighter service will follow the pastors’ service. A private interment will be held at the Wheatfield Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Wheatfield Lions Club or the Wheatfield Volunteer Fire Department.