Dr. Robert W. Kerpsack

YOUNGSTOWN - Dr. Robert W. Kerpsack, 94, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2026, at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital following a brief illness.

Dr. Bob was born Oct. 26, 1931, in Youngstown, the second-born identical twin of Stephen and Anna Hutira Kerpsack.

After graduating from the old Chaney High School in 1949, Dr. Bob and his twin brother, William R. Kerpsack, enrolled in Youngstown College, where they planned to study engineering. In 1950, however, the twins applied and were each accepted into the School of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University. Like all Ohio State students at the time, the twins participated in the school's ROTC program. Following graduation from veterinary school on June 8, 1956, the twins lined up in their cap and gown under Ohio Stadium and were sworn into the U.S. Army Reserve as lieutenants.

During the summer of 1956, Dr. Bob traveled around northern Indiana with a cow chute in tow, vaccinating range cattle for brucellosis. By late summer, however, each twin had received a draft notice to active duty with the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. The twins were stationed together at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland, where they were assigned to the U.S. biological weapons program and required to be personally vaccinated against some of the worst infectious diseases on the planet--a factor believed to have contributed to their eventual longevity.

Both twins were discharged from active duty in the Spring of 1960. Dr. Bill returned home to Youngstown, where he envisioned building a small animal veterinary clinic on Meridian Road. Meanwhile, Dr. Bob remained an Army Reservist at Fort Detrick, got married, and started a family. After construction of the Meridian Road clinic building was completed in 1962, Dr. Bob returned to Youngstown to join the practice, moving his growing family into the old Moherman farmhouse on Tippecanoe Road in Canfield Township.

For nearly seven decades, the Kerpsack twins maintained an unwavering passion for the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery at their Meridian Road clinic. Recognizing the clinic to be their lifeline, the twins never seriously considered retirement.

In addition to the practice of veterinary medicine, Dr. Bob had passions for gardening, polka dancing, reading, conversation, traditions of his hometown of Youngstown, including the Canfield Fair, eating "Hunky" food, drinking an occasional glass of beer, attending family sporting events, recitals, and competitions, as well as Ohio State home football games for which he and his twin brother held four season tickets for nearly 60 years.

Dr. Bob, affectionately known by his family as "Poppy K," is survived by his five children, Atty. Robert Jr. (Kelly) of Dublin, OH, Heidi (Mark) Murphy of Grayslake, IL, Dr. Stephen (Dr. Stephanie) of Austin, TX, Dr. Joseph (Dr. Gloria) of Clermont, FL, and Dr. James (Tara) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He is also survived by his longtime companion, Margaret ("Maggie") Skripac of Boardman, ex-wife and mother of his children, Anne Kerpsack Ellis of Clermont, FL, his sisters, Joan Fergus and Dorothy Meredith, sister-in-law Virginia (Anthony) Infante, his twin brother's longtime companion, Mary Helen Hurton, all of Canfield, as well as his cherished 14 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and many other devoted nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, and current and former clinic staff members.

In addition to his parents, Dr. Bob was preceded in death by his identical twin brother, William (by 106 days) and his wife, Francie, his brothers, Stephen Jr. and John ("Jack"), and brother-in-law Robert Fergus.

Calling hours will be on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at the Boardman-Canfield Chapel of Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, 3701 Starr's Centre Dr., Canfield, OH 44406. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 10:00 am at St. Michael Catholic Church, 300 N Broad St, Canfield, OH 44406. Burial will be at Canfield Village Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Dr. Bob's memory to the Animal Charity of Ohio Charlie's Senior W.I.S.H Program at www.givebutter.com/CharliesWISH, which provides grants/care to help seniors stay with their pets.

The family extends a heartfelt thank you to the 5 th and 7 th floor staff at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital and to the staff at Windsor House at Canfield for their extraordinary compassion and care of Dr. Bob.