Dr. Robert J. Straub

Dr. Robert J. “Bob” Straub passed away peacefully on September 2, 2013. His family remembers him for his intelligence, his work ethic, his curiosity about the world, his hands-on approach to absolutely everything (also known as “tinkering,” “puttering,” “hovering,” or “wanting to know everything”), his fishing hobby, his strength, and his perceptive blue eyes. To those who knew him, his devotion to Gloria, his wife of nearly 63 years, was apparent. So was his love for his children and grandchildren, who each adored him.

He was born on December 11, 1921 in Livonia, NY to Arthur and Hilda Straub. He was the middle of three children, and grew up alongside his older brother, Maurice, and his younger sister, Janet. His father taught him how to fish, and he was an avid fisherman throughout his life. As a child, he also enjoyed going to his Uncle Oscar and Aunt Elsie’s nearby dairy farm. He enjoyed recounting one of his favorite childhood stories about the day he met a skunk (and was sprayed!) on his way to catechism class. When he arrived, the whole class smelled him and the priest asked who the stinky culprit was. Bob had to raise his hand; then the priest called him a skunk in front of the class and sent him home. His mother was not impressed!

He graduated from the University of Detroit School of Dentistry in 1945, and then served as a dentist in the Navy, stationed at Cherry Point, NC. Afterwards, he returned to Detroit and taught dentistry at U of D and established his own dental practice on Joy Rd., specializing in gold crown and bridge work.

He met his future wife, Gloria, on a blind date set up by his friend and fellow dental school classmate. Several years after their first date in Detroit – they’d lost touch, as he’d been living in North Carolina and she’d been living in Hollywood -- they unexpectedly ran into each other again. That time was the charm. They were married on December 2, 1950 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wyandotte, MI. Together they raised their four children (Robert, Susan, Sheryl, and Sharleen) in Redford Township, where they were active members of St. Valentine Catholic Church and Western Golf & Country Club.

He instilled in his children a sense of fairness, loyalty, and self-reliance. He often told his kids to “remember where you come from.” But most of his lessons were delivered by setting a good example. His actions were louder than his words. He was generous with his kids, but he could also be a tough creditor. He might give a gift of $5,000 with no strings attached, but if he *loaned* just $5, he demanded that it be paid back, precisely on time, with interest! He was proud of the fact that he obviously passed on his stubbornness and wisecracking sense of humor to his kids, which he mostly blamed on being German.

Bob and Gloria’s family grew to include ten grandchildren. He loved visiting his family in Florida and Oregon, or having his Michigan kids and grandkids over often – usually for a big feast. Known for his fish fries and making with best smoked turkey in his smoker, he was a very good cook although he was known to ignore recipes and improvise. He thought that most dishes could benefit from the addition of balsamic vinegar. He’d follow Gloria around the kitchen and throw in his own special touches to recipes, even though he got himself in a lot of trouble for doing it. He loved a good drink, too; he was particularly fond of his Manhattans.

He also loved to travel. He and Gloria took their young family on road trips around the U.S.; together they also visited several places around the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, China, Alaska, Ireland, Italy, SE Asia, Africa, Mexico, the Galapagos Islands, and all over Europe. In his later years, he traveled vicariously through his grandchildren, who brought him back pictures and stories of their own travels.

He loved animals, the outdoors, and the natural world. He loved to pick berries or any kind of fruit when it was in season. He shared his love of fishing with his children and grandchildren. He taught his grandchildren how to tie fishing knots and how to clean the fish they caught together. As a naturalist, he also enjoyed hunting and spent two weeks every year with some of his dental school friends hunting duck, pheasant, and other game. He believed in the importance of eating everything he brought home from the outdoors – fish, birds, game, and fruit.

He liked to stay busy, even in retirement. His children broke things for him to fix, because they knew he’d be bored without a project. He maintained a garden in their yard in Marine City, MI, and he was an avid reader. He paid attention to current events, and enjoyed watching CNN and MSNBC to stay informed. He was a fan of the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings, although Gloria was probably a bigger fan. He loved documentaries, as long as they weren’t about war, and especially if they were about travel, animals, or other nature.

Dr. Straub’s life is reflected in the people who knew and loved him, especially his wife Gloria, his four children: Rob Straub of Longwood, FL, Susan Straub (Craig Edwards) of Bend, OR, Sheryl St. Jean (Tom) of Livonia, MI, and Sharleen St. Jean (Mark Gauthier) of Livonia, MI; his ten grandchildren: Kristen Edwards, Brittany Edwards, Brendon Straub, Angela St. Jean, Matthew St. Jean, Bobby Straub, Kevin Edwards, Katelyn St. Jean, Kyle St. Jean, the late Brooke Straub, and his one great-grandchild, Dezirae Straub,

He was quite a man. He’ll be missed.

Visitation: Friday, September 13 from 6-9pm at Turowski Life Story Funeral Home – 30200 Five Mile Rd., Livonia, MI. Mass: Saturday, September 14. In state 9:30/10am Mass at St. Valentine Catholic Church – 14841 Beech Daly Rd., Redford Township, MI. Please share a memory or sign the guestbook @ www.TurowskiLifeStory.com.