Robert H. Insley, 91, Sartell

June 20, 1923 - March 8, 2015

Services will be held at a later date for Robert H. Insley, age 91 of Sartell, Minnesota, formerly of Royal Oak, Michigan and Hilton Head, South Carolina. Bob passed away peacefully with family by his side on Sunday, March 8, 2015 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Bob was born on June 20, 1923 in Washington D.C. to the late Herbert H. and Marguerete (Hiteshew) Insley. He attended Bethesda Chevy Chase High School where he met the love of his life Betty Hughes, whom he noticed at a high school basketball game. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1941 and served on a minesweeper in the Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1945, returned home and began attending Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. He married Betty Hughes on May 15, 1947 in Washington D.C. They moved to Boulder, Colorado while Robert was in graduate school. They then moved to Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania where their two daughters, Susan and Patricia were born. The family then moved to Royal Oak, Michigan, where their son, Donald was born. While in Michigan he spent his entire career with Champion Spark Plug Company and retired after 33 years as Director of Engineering and Research. In 1988, Betty and Bob moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina where they enjoyed many years of golf, bridge, beaching and volunteering. They moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota in 2009 to be closer to their son.

Bob’s love of research led him to create and host a tour of Civil War sites in Port Royal Plantation on Hilton Head Island for the Coastal Discovery Museum, as well as tide and beach tours.

Bob is survived by his children, Susan (Robert) Sandtveit of Traverse City, Michigan; Patricia Insley of Omaha, Nebraska; Donald (Tammy) of St. Cloud, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Kyle, Benjamin and Madelyn; five great grandchildren, Kayla, Carson, Augusten, Riley and Griffin; and brother, Herbert H. ( Jean) Insley of Albany, New York.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty in 2013.

Memorials are preferred to the Coastal Discovery Museum of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.