Robert Irwin Sattler

Robert I Sattler was taken from us on 5 Oct 2013. He passed away quickly and peacefully surrounded by family. He was married 58 years to Ilene and they had nine children: Johnny, Sheila, Gail, Rob, Diane, Suzy, Paul, David, and Mary Ellen. He leaves behind a large extended family, 16 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Bob was a remarkable man and had a very full life. He was raised in St. Clair Shores and attended Lakeshore High School. In 1944, he entered the Navy V-12 program at DePauw University and became a pilot and commissioned ensign. He was discharged from the Navy in 1946 and finished his education at Purdue University earning degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Naval Science and Tactics. In 1952 he became a Registered Professional Engineer. During college years Bob played varsity baseball, football and basketball. After graduation he was recruited to pitch for the New York Yankees, however he broke his pitching arm (playing hockey) which ended his baseball career in 1950. He remained active in sports throughout his life, including hockey and later tennis and fishing. Bob returned home in 1950 to help run the family business. He became the president of LaSalle Machine Tool in 1957. Over the next twenty-four years he turned a small machine tool shop into an international company. LaSalle had over a thousand employees with nine plants located in Michigan, Windsor, and Italy. The company had customers in the United States, Europe, Russia, Mexico, Asia and South America. In 1974, the company merged with Acme Cleveland. In the 1980's Bob started various family businesses including a financial advisory firm, and a farming/dairy enterprise. Sattler Inc, established in 1995, is currently a successful machine tool business which Bob started with his three sons and a daughter. The Association for Manufacturing Technology honored Bob as a "Living Legend" in 1997. In 2012 Purdue University recognized him with the "Outstanding Aerospace Engineer" award. Bob has always been an engineer. Until the day he died, he was continually coming up with ways to improve designs. There are over twenty patents in his name. We have no doubt that on arrival to Heaven, his first thought was how to improve the design of the Pearly Gates. He was a good and generous man who will be missed by all who knew him. Visitation will take place Tuesday 2-9 pm with a rosary 6 pm at the A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Avenue at Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe Woods. He will lie in state Wednesday 9:30 am until time of Mass 10 am at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 467 Fairford. Grosse Ponte Woods. Interment will take place at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, preceded by Navy Military Honors. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions appreciated to the Capuchins, 1820 Mt. Elliott, Detroit, MI 48207 or Holy Cross Children's Services, 8759 Clinton-Macon Road, Clinton, MI 49236.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236