Robert A. Starke, 87, was born on May 16,1936 at St Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the only child of Mrs. Adelle P. Starke and Mr. Augusts M. Starke, Robert Starke departed this life on February 12th surrounded by loving family members and friends.

He lived most of his life in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Graduating from Central High School, He played basketball and ran track. He was extremely gifted and had a God-given natural talent as an artist. Because of this, his parents encouraged him to attend the West Central Art school on the weekends.

After graduating from High School, he attended Central State University, majoring in Art and Art History, joined the Kappa Alpha PSI Fraternity Club for life. In 1958 he joined the United States Army R.O.T.C. in Fort Bragg, NC. He then joined the US Navy for some time before an Honorable Discharge on December 6th 1962.

Once Robert settled in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he landed a rewarding job with Fort Wayne Community Schools as a Liaison and Administrator from :1966-1972. He was later employed by Petter Eckrich & Sons as a Packaging Graphics Administrator from 1972-1983. He also became a self-employed Commercial Artist from 1973-1985.

In 1985 he was employed by the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Center (Known now as the Jennings Center) as a Supervisor until he retired in 1999. He then opened the first Not-For-Profit Black History Museum, ABN Museum (American Black National Museum).

Robert Starke was a well-known and well-respected Artist in Fort Wayne, Cincinnati , OH, and New York, NY. You can see some of his art work still displayed in Union Baptist Church, Link's Wonderland, Young Elementary School, East Pontiac Mall and many other places in Fort Wayne and various States.

He also received many awards for his Community Service, Volunteer work in Community Development and Art Work & Displays in his lifetime. He always focused on uplifting his community by any means necessary.

Robert Starke was preceded in death by his parents, Adelle and Augusts Starke, his daughter, D'Anna Starke, cousins Mattie Anne Starling and Pauline Hawkins. He leaves to cherish his beautiful memory, his loving partner of 43 years, Nigist Teklehamanot, his daughter, Darryl Anne Starke, his grandchildren, cousin Caprice and her children and many family and friends here in Fort Wayne, and all over the United States.