Robert M. Irbe, Ph.D., Biological Science
September 28, 1944 - May 23, 2023

Robert M. Irbe, Ph.D., Biological Sciences, passed peacefully from this earthly life on May 23, 2023, at Mercy Medical Center in Rockford, IL. Robert was born in Riga, Latvia to the late Janis and Genovefa Irbe. Robert and Margie Chambers Irbe of Rock Springs Arkansas married in 1968.

He is also preceded in death by his sister, Mara Cannula.

Robert is survived by his wife, Margie Chambers Irbe of Rock Springs, Arkansas, a brother George Irbe and niece Barbara Riddy of Nanaimo, BC, Canada and his brother Andris (Linda) Irbe of Houston and many nieces and nephews.

Robert's father Janis had left home early in life to work aboard cargo ships and later returned to Riga to study navigation. He married and had a son, George, and divorced. Captain Irbe married Genovefa. The Irbes had 3 children, Andris, Robert, and Mara, and finally obtained a permit to live in Belgium. Captain Irbe found an old wooden 39-foot racing yacht. He worked on it for a couple of years to make it seaworthy. It was time to leave war-torn Europe in search of a new country. On February 12, 1951, about 100 miles from the coast of Trinidad, British West Indies an Alcoa steamship spotted the yacht in distress and gave them water and food. The next morning Captain Irbe had managed to tie the yacht to the wharves at the Port of Spain. Trinidad. He got a job working for Alcoa Steamship Company carrying cargo between the United States and the West Indies.

1962 brought the family immigrated to the USA through the Port of New Orleans with British passports. They bought a house in the southwest suburbs of Houston while Janis continued to work for Alcoa Steamship. Robert got his BS in Biology at the University of Houston, in August of 1968 shortly before Margie and Robert married. He worked all sorts of jobs and knowing that he was majoring in Biology, Margie suggested that he interview for a part-time job at Herman Hospital conducting a special study on nosocomial infections. All of a sudden that guy with the British accent fit right in with a host of new friends, family, and graduate students.

Robert continued graduate studies and received his Ph.D., in Biological Sciences and moved to New York City in 1976 for post-doctoral studies at the New York City Public Research Institute under Dr. Michio Oishi in the Genetics Department.

Robert was able to use his knowledge and skills in multiple disciplines in a variety of companies and industries (Standard Brands--Wilton Connecticut, Northrup Services, NASA--Houston, General Foods--Cranbury, NJ, Monsanto, Nutrasweet Group- Mount Prospect, IL, Radiance Technologies,--Jonesboro, AR, Independent Consultant).

Robert loved the seas, fishing, and eating fresh seafood. He learned the Texas jargon, camping out all night with briskets on the grill for the Rodeo to come to town. He loved his work and walking into a new job and tackling whatever was needed. Robert was a great mentor and teacher, photographer and to gather with friends and family. He did like to be the center of attention.

In 2008 Robert became very ill and Dr. David Chambers got him scheduled at Mayo Clinic just after Labor Day. No definitive diagnosis on why his L-4 root nerve was severely damaged and the prognosis was that if he got able to walk that it would be very slow. By January 2009 he had his last fall and went to work in Jonesboro, AR. Robert did not want others to take care of him.

Robert's lungs and heart failed due to chronic Stage 4 renal failure. Robert had near-death experiences from infancy and multiple chronic conditions. Most friends and family never knew of his struggles which became more frequent with age. This was not unexpected and he had all his papers prepared in early March of 2017 and Margie agreed to be his agent in charge of healthcare and all affairs.

A service is not planned at this time. A celebration of Robert's life will likely occur near the 1-year of his death; May 23, 2024.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, please send them to your own family, a church near you, or Rock Springs Cemetery Fund. Share a hug with your loved ones as you remember Robert.




Robert's 2018 Christmas Greeting

Renewal of old friendships in the ''winter of my life''.

The year started with good news. In February my niece in Canada called and said that she and her husband would like to come down to Rockford and visit. I was in the middle of planning activities for their visit when she called, with the sad news that her husband had passed. A little later Margie's younger sister had passed. They were good people. This cast a dark shadow and I hoped that it will not be an indication of how the year would unfold.

In June I got a call from a high school friend in Trinidad, W. I. that he and his wife will be attending the Institute for Food Technology annual meeting in Chicago and asked if I would be able to join them for dinner. After dinner we returned to the Hilton hotel Pattie played the piano in the mezzanine of the hotel. Soon there was an admiring audience enjoying the music.

Yves brought me a gift from another school mate. My friend Martin had sent a book of the newspaper articles that he written over the years. This started an e-mail correspondence. Martin and I were born on the same day, 6 AM for him and 6 PM for me, of the same month and in the same year. This brought back memories of the tennis that we had played and our visit to A ''Calypso Tent'' (now in a building). Where singers and bands played in preparation for Carnival. We were the only 14 year olds in the audience.

A fellow from our graduate student days sent me an e-mail and asked ''how was I doing''. We have begun corresponding after an absence of a number of years.

I undertook a project to do some custom work on the house: I repaired some trim over the garage and a window, added insulation to garage, added sheetrock to the walls of the basement and painted the basement walls.

I am looking forward to 2019 with renewed hope.

Robert