John Keith Robertson

John Keith Robertson, 86, of Greencastle, passed away on Saturday, July 28, 2018.

He was born Jan. 6, 1932 in Brooklyn, N.Y., soon after his parents, John and Mary Robertson, came to the United States from Scotland.

After growing up in Brooklyn's Bay Ridge neighborhood, John served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

He met JoAnne Smith of Putnamville, his future wife, while spending holiday leave with a friend's family in Indiana. The couple began their married life on a military base in Illinois where John was an Air Force instructor. He also was a part-time student at University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

John and JoAnne then made Greencastle their home. From the late 1950s until retirement, John worked at Public Service Indiana (Duke Energy) in Plainfield. He was a gifted draftsman who became a supervisor and manager of broad, drafting-related initiatives. He also was a valued mentor to young PSI employees and Indianapolis area high school students exploring careers similar to his own.

Outside of work, he loved to solve problems, especially involving design and structure, and to create art. He painted throughout his adult life, most often producing landscapes in oil. He also enjoyed teaching others about art.

Those close to John know how proud he was of his Scottish heritage. At the same time, he valued his Indiana community. His service included leading a Boy Scout troop, helping produce sets for the Putnam County Playhouse, being a deacon of the Greencastle Presbyterian Church, teaching a children's art class, playing Santa for the Humane Society's Christmas photo fundraisers, and volunteering at his neighborhood polling place and the Putnam County Fair.

He spent countless hours working for the Contact suicide hotline. He and JoAnne helped collect and edit materials for the 1966 book, "Putnam County History: Indiana's Sesquicentennial." He took great pride in serving on the board for Forest Hill Cemetery and designed the columbarium and children's sections of the cemetery.

He was a gifted, colorful story-teller adding his brilliant sense of humor to every adventure.

He is survived by daughters Susan Robertson of Enterprise Ala., Jean Robertson of Long Island, N.Y., and Laurie Hardwick (Jim) of Greencastle; grandchildren Aaron Furniss and Emilie Mooney, Kaitlin and Haley Springston, and Eli Hardwick; and great-grandchildren Nathan Mooney and Charlie, Ciela and Cedar Furniss.

He is predeceased by his wife JoAnne and his sister, Phyllis Ellis.

Visitation will be held from noon until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4 at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, 4 Percy Julian Drive, Greencastle. A private graveside service will be conducted at Bainbridge Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to Friends of Forest Hill Cemetery, 1 N. Locust St., Greencastle.