Robert A. Samples

Robert Alan Samples, 50, of Grand Rapids, MI, died tragically as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident on August 29, 2020.  Robert was born in Franklin, IN, to Jeffrey Samples and Gaylyn Gunter (formerly Samples).  He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of nearly 27 years, Cathryn L. Chadwick, and their 4 children – Cheyenne (25), Willow (15), Robert (10) and Lark (9) Samples and his granddaughter, Erin Samples (6).   He is survived by his father, Jeffrey Samples; mother and step-father Gaylyn and Dennis Gunter; brothers Kirk, Jeff and Kenneth Samples and sister, Melissa Samples, as well as in-laws Jim and Eileen Chadwick, Sandi Chadwick, and nephew, Colin Chadwick.   He was preceded in death by his best friend, Stephen Maguire of Glasgow, Scotland.

Robert was a faithful and devoted husband, constant companion, and the staunchest ally of his wife, Cathryn.   He was loyal beyond words, ready to protect his family and friends, no matter what, no questions asked, at a moment’s notice.  He would literally give the shirt off his back to help someone in need.  He was raised in a large family and nothing made him happier than to have a large family of his own. His children and granddaughter were the joys of his life.  He was proud to have been a chef and volunteer firefighter but sacrificed it all to be the amazing husband and father he was. Nothing made him happier than his big, crazy, loud, spirited family – even when he had to drag everyone out of the house before 7am on a weekend to get the kids to their hockey games.  He was the loudest fan at their games and the softest place to land after a tough loss.  His heart was the biggest part of him – finding good in all he met and adopting stray animals, simply because he couldn’t see them abused or unwell. He was a lifelong Green Bay Packers and Indiana University Basketball fan and would spend many an afternoon cheering them (loudly) from afar.  He was a big supporter of law enforcement, military vets and wildlife preservation, and took great pleasure in teaching his children about the things he loved.  His big, soft heart will live on in the legacy of his children and the friends he left behind.

The family would like to thank their GRAHA hockey family and the Spectrum Health Acute Care/Trauma/Orthopedic trauma teams for their love and support during this time. 

Visitation for family and friends will be Thursday, September 10 from 3-8 pm at the Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home.  Family services will be held the next day.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Grand Rapids Amateur Hockey Association to support youth hockey or the Wounded Warrior Foundation.  Donations can be made to GRAHA, PO Box 559, Ada, MI. 

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