Robert ‘Bob’ Warren Etzel, 76, of Croton, NJ, passed away peacefully on January 2nd, 2024 beloved father of Carrianne (Etzel) Costello (James Costello) and stepfather of Louis Esposito as well as 6 grandchildren. He was the beloved companion of Kathleen Wilcox.

Bob was the son of the late Stanley Etzel and Beatrice (Schmoyer) Etzel. Bob was born and raised in Croton and lived on the same property his whole life. He built his home on the grounds, from the ground up. His craftsman skills were impeccable and he converted a small ‘chicken coupe’ into his own dream home over 70 years. 

Bob was a 1965 graduate of Hunterdon Central High School. In 1968, he joined the United States Army. Bob received three Army Engineering Certificates, and was deployed to Korea 1969 – 1971 and remained in the reserves until 1974. Bob was also an auto mechanic/machinist for decades, inventory specialist for an auction company, collector of muscle cars and anything else that he found interesting. Bob worked on cars in his personal garage at the family property for his entire life.

Being an only child, Bob loved his friends like family, always wanted to have friends at his house or traveling to theirs, every day of the week. Bob enjoyed rebuilding cars, engines, boats, crabbing at midnight, riding boats to Atlantic Ocean sandbars and spending the day clamming and throwing massive Halloween parties at his Croton home making it in the local paper several times. His Tom River home had a boat slip that he would let anyone use so that they could save some money and he would make a new friend. He started cruising back in the early 80s, spending any free time he had on a boat and adventuring around foreign land. Bob worked on inspiring family and friends to join him cruising, navigating new spaces and hunt for unique, well priced finds, always with an eye for a bargain. Later in life, he enjoyed time with his grandchildren who he liked to joke around with, nicknaming Carrianne’s oldest, Owen, ‘Cupcake’ in which Owen fondly joke around and call Bob ‘Cupcake’ too. Bob was a social butterfly who enjoyed family time, going out restaurant hopping, late nights at his lagoon side tikibar (Tom’s River) and at his home bar he affectionately called the ‘Whale’s Tail.’ Bob had an endearing personality and although stubborn, had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone. He had an amazing way of making everyone feel special and maintain his bubbly, jokester ways, always.

Graveside life celebration services will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at Prospect Hill Cemetery, 69 Capner Street, Flemington, NJ, and to which all are welcome. Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Family Care Team Ambassadors upon arrival at the cemetery. Following the ceremony, a luncheon will immediately follow at Etzel’s family restaurant, currently El Molcajete, 271 Old Croton Road, Flemington, NJ 08822.

Arrangement are under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

You are encouraged to visit Bob’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Bob’s memory would be appreciated by his family to: National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, 5550 West Executive Drive, Suite #200, Tampa, FL 33609: Donate – National Pediatric Cancer Foundation

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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