Bobbie "Bob" Joe Sokeland, 83, of Fort Branch passed away surrounded by his loving family on June 18, 2025, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital.

Bob was born on February 24, 1942, to the late Charles Woodrow and Leona (Wilderman) Sokeland in Francisco.

Bob graduated from Francisco High School in 1960 and shortly after, on June 3, 1961, married the love of his life, Marilyn Kiesel. Throughout his life, Bob worked various jobs but ultimately decided to open and run Sokeland Heating & Air in May of 1968. He ran the business for several years until 2007 when he retired and turned over the daily operations to his kids. Although he had already retired, Bob continued to be a part of the business until it's closing in 2023. In Bob's free time, he enjoyed fishing, camping, collecting antiques, and traveling. He did all his life adventures with his loving wife Marilyn. Bob was a member of several different organizations including the Beekeepers Club and he was a Kentucky Colonel. He was very active in his community.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Marilyn Sokeland; his children, Mike (Debra) Sokeland of Fort Branch, Linda (Kurt) Stone of Grafton, WI, Ed (Tamrun) Sokeland of Fort Branch, and Jeff (Pam) Sokeland of Wadesville; grandchildren, Chris, Steve, Elizabeth, Rachel (Zach), Grace (Zane), Daniel, Darian, Avery (Morgan), Eli, Oliver, Nicholas (Katie), and Adam (Candy); 11 great grandchildren; and 2 siblings, Betty Seibert and Don Sokeland.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, June 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Father Phillip Rogier as celebrant. Visitation will be Sunday, June 22, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Stodghill Funeral Home in Fort Branch. There will be visitation again on Monday. June 23, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. until mass time. Burial will follow mass at Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Cross Catholic Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Princeton, or St. Bernard Catholic Church in Snake Run. Expressions of sympathy may be made at stodghillfuneralhome.com.

Holy Cross Catholic Church
305 E. Walnut St., Fort Branch IN 47648
Tel: 1-812-753-3548
Web: http://www.holycrossparish.info

St. Joseph Catholic Church
410 S. Race Street, Princeton IN 47670
Tel: 1-812-385-2167
Web: https://www.stjosephprinceton.org/

St. Bernard's Catholic Church
5342 IN-168, Fort Branch IN 47648
Tel: 1-812-753-4601
Email: stodghil@gmail.com
Web: http://www.stbernardsnakerun.org