Robert H. Emke

Mr. Robert H. Emke Sr., 77, of Depot Street, Kill Buck died Sunday morning, November 19, 2017 at Olean General Hospital following a short illness.

Born July 30, 1940 in Ellicottville, NY, he was the son of the late Harry and Elizabeth Slating Emke. He was married November 9, 1963 to the former Ellen Blumriech, who predeceased him on August 14, 2014.

Mr. Emke was a graduate of Ellicottville Central School Class of 1958, where he excelled in all sports. He is honored for scoring over 1,000 points in Varsity Basketball and had recently been inducted into the Cattaraugus County Sports Hall of Fame.

He had been employed as a meat manager for Jubilee Food Mart in Batavia. He began his career in the grocery business by working at his parents’ grocery store, the former Emke Food Shop in Ellicottville until 1970, then went to work for the former Quality Markets as a butcher.

He enjoyed spending time with his family. He also enjoyed league bowling for many years and bowled a 300 game at Manor Lanes in Tonawanda, NY.

He was a former member of the Ellicottville Volunteer Fire Company, where he served as Assistant Chief and President, and was also an Ellicottville Volunteer Fire Department Exempt.

Surviving are: a daughter, Tina (Chuck) Sollen, Ft. Erie, ON; two sons, Robert H. (Carol) Emke Jr., Tonawanda, NY, Richard (Kelly) Emke, Kill Buck, NY; four granddaughters, Charlee (Spencer) Lamb, OK, Shaina Sollen, Ft. Erie, ON, Tessa (Frankie Quattrone) Emke, Kill Buck, NY, Sarah Emke, Tonawanda, NY; two great-grandsons; two sisters, Nancy (Jack) Rogan, Ellicottville, NY, Paula (Jim) Ayrhart, Humphrey, NY; a brother, Dick (Vicki) Emke, Great Valley, NY; several nieces and nephews.

Besides his wife, he was predeceased by a grandson, Colton Richard Emke.

Friends may call at the O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, NY on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 from 4 – 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with Rev. John Woodring of the United Church of Ellicottville officiating.

Burial will be in Crawford Cemetery.

E-condolences can be sent to john@orourke-orourke.com or posted to facebook.com/onofh.