Robert “Bob” Auer

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 8am-10am at ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST ARMENIAN CHURCH 7825 W. Layton Ave. Greenfield. Service at 10AM. Interment to follow at Arlington Park Cemetery.

 

 

Auer, Robert S.  “Bob”

 

Born on April 8, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois and died peacefully at home on August 20, 2022, in Greenfield, Wisconsin.  Preceded in death by his wife, Martha Kalajian Auer, the love of his life.  Father of Shirley (Leon) Saryan, Chris (Judy) Kalajian; grandfather of Ani Saryan Kopf, M.D. (Matthew), Armen (Lara) Saryan, Michael (Nicole) Kalajian, Cheri (Donald) Griffin; great-grandfather of Donnie and Alaina Griffin, Evelyn Kopf; uncle and great-uncle to many.

Bob was a kind and gentle soul who was loyal to his family, church, and country.

Saturday, August 27, 2022 services will be held at  St. John Armenian Church, 7825 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield, WI  53220:  Visitation, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; funeral service at 10 a.m.  Interment to follow at Arlington Park Cemetery, 4141 S. 27^th St., Greenfield, WI  53221.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to:  St. John Armenian Church, 7825 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield WI  53220 or Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090  “in memory of Martha Kalajian Auer.”

 

Robert “Bob” Auer

 

Bob Auer was born April 8, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, to Mary (Bonaci) and Steve Auer.  His parents were of Hungarian descent.  His mother was from Ohio and his father was an immigrant to America from western Hungary.  Bob grew up in Chicago and was raised as a Roman Catholic.  Both of his parents worked hard to support the family, his father did painting and electrical work and his mother worked for American Can Company.  During the Depression, his father worked for a leather company and then became a welder at Union Carbide Company in Whiting, Indiana.  Bob graduated from George Rogers Clark High School in Whiting in 1948 and worked with his uncle who was a veterinarian in Seattle, Washington, with the intention of attending veterinary school.

 

Bob’s education was cut short by the outbreak of the Korean War.  Much to the chagrin of his mother, he immediately enlisted in the United States Coast Guard.  He attended boot camp in Cape May, New Jersey, and was then assigned to the Arundel, an ice-breaking tugboat based in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.  Bob was a patriotic American and was proud of his military service.

 

After three years he was honorably discharged from the military and found employment in Chicago, ultimately at Wisconsin Steel Company at 106^th and Torrance Avenue, a major company supplying steel to power American manufacturing.  He started in the mill as a sub-foreman and was promoted to general foreman. After Wisconsin Steel closed, Bob worked for the Dolton, Illinois School District as substitute teacher and head custodian.

 

While working at Wisconsin Steel, Bob met Martha Kalajian of Dolton who worked in charge of scheduling in the factory’s main office.  Martha was widowed with two children.  Bob and Martha were joined in matrimony in 1974 by Very Rev. Father Varoujan Kabarajian.

 

After his military service, Bob continued his education, receiving a certificate in Industrial Relations from St. Joseph’s College and a BS in Management from Calumet College.  In 1970, Bob was a candidate in the election for Indiana State Assembly.  He also volunteered for the Selective Service Board for which he received a Certificate of Appreciation from President Nixon, and received citations for community service from the city of Hammond, Indiana.  He was a 50-year member of the American Legion.

 

After his marriage to Martha, Bob became an active member of Sts. Joachim and Anne Armenian Church in Palos Heights, Illinois.  He served as trustee and choir member, and in 1989 was ordained with the first four orders of the Armenian Church by Archbishop Torkom Manoogian.  In 2003, when he and Martha moved to Greenfield, Wisconsin, Bob served at St. John the Baptist Armenian Church.    In 2017 he was ordained subdeacon by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian.  Deacon Bob loved and respected the Armenian church and its traditions, and was honored to serve at the altar.

 

Bob was devoted to Martha’s children, Shirley and Chris, and their families.  He loved his grandchildren Michael, Cheri, Ani and Armen, and great grandchildren Donnie, Alaina and Evelyn.  His final mission in life was caring for his wife Martha when she was afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, which he did with tender loving care and devotion.

 

Bob was an avid and skilled fisherman, and with Martha often took their grandchildren fishing either to Oshkosh or La Crosse.  In his final years he was able to go on several fishing trips for walleye and bass in northern Wisconsin.

 

Bob was a kind gentleman who always had a smile on his face.  He was friendly, welcoming, and helpful to all.  Children and adults alike enjoyed his impersonations of clown Emmett Kelly and cartoon character Donald Duck.  We will miss him dearly.