Pop~I miss you and think of you every day. I owe so many of my fondest childhood memories to you and the time we spent all together as a family were the best of times. I'll think of you every Christmas morning and remember you making your rounds to see ALL of us kids to take pictures of us with our toys(meanwhile having breakfast at ALL of our houses haha)! I'll never forget getting my finger stuck in your fist and listening to the Oakridge Boys while I would draw at your desk. I can still hear your deep voice singing "Elvira-my heart's on fire". I love you and I look for you every day around me. Rest in peace and until we meet again....

Love, 
Allison

Please accept my sympathy on the death of your husband and dad. He was a giant of a man who touched many souls and hearts. His kindness, his humility, his humor, his knowledge were all such examples for all of us. While we will miss him, I know there is a special sadness for you that loved him so well and whom he loved so much. I pray that you continue to feel his presence and guidance during these difficult days until we have the joy of that reunion again. I am sorry I was away at the time of the funeral but I hope you felt the many prayers and hugs that were sent your way. Thinking of You, Marge Trenkle

Bob was my first boss when I started at NASA fresh out of college. I owe much of my success over these thirty years since to him. No doubt he is now analyzing the properties of milk and honey. Peace be with you!

This is a transcript of the first eulogy from the funeral. 

Mrs.Callens, Anna Marie, Chuckie, Bob, and Julie.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to say a few things about a man that influenced my life in so many positive ways. 

I'm Greg Cooney and just one of the many people who had the great pleasure of being in the St. Mark CYO as a youth. 

I now teach at a Catholic high school in Rhode Island. 

Last year, One of my students interviewed me as part of her senior project. She asked me to identify the three most influential people in my life. 

I thought to myself.... ok this has got be a trick question. If this is a religion class assignment, I better say the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...... 
But, Then I really started to think.....

Other than my Mom, Dad and brother, The one person that had the most influence on my life was the man that brought me closer TO the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

That person is Bob Callens...(Crash). I still never got a straight answer as to why we called him Crash.

When I was in the CYO, Crash was the adult moderator.

Crash was so dedicated to each and every one of us.

He was always there and seemed to understand our needs as teens.
Teenagers can be awkward, greasy, and have a lot of trouble letting adults into their heads and hearts. Crash had a non-threatening, goofy, simple, and inviting personality. He accepted each one of us as we were. Crash made it easy for us to let him into our teenage heads and hearts. He let us into his head and heart as well. We were never really sure what was in his head, but we knew what was in his heart. God and Family.

Crash never stopped talking about his family in a positive way.

I don't know how he found the time to meet the needs of his family, 
his work and the youth at St. Mark.

I am sure there were many times the CYO pulled him away from his family. And for that, Mrs. Callens and the Callens family, thank you for letting us barrow Crash for all of those hours he was not at home.

Just in case you don't know what he was up to when he was away?....well, 
He was giving us the greatest example of what it truly means to be a servant of God.

When I was in the 9th grade, I had a lot of trouble believing in myself.
Dyslexia and other learning disabilities were getting the best of me. 

I wanted to know what I had done wrong 
and why God was punishing me by giving me dyslexia? 

I went to Crash for advice. But...He had a rule, 
he said he couldn't give advice, but he could listen.  That's exactly what he did. 

He had the ability to listen. He taught ME how to listen. 

Crash got me to understand that God doesn't make Junk. 
God didn't chose to give me disabilities, but perhaps allowed me to have disabilities so that other gifts and blessings would shine through. If I used those gifts to overcome my disabilities, then God's glory would shine through the gifts and talent that God had given me.

He taught me how to tune out the obstacles that got in the way of success. 
He taught me how to find and develop the gifts and talents God had given me.

Crash helped so many young people discover the gifts God had given them.
These gifts have enabled us to become teachers, counselors, nurses, lawyers, engineers, administrators, parents, youth ministers, and priests.

Even in his passing, Crash still continues to minister through us as Eucharistic people every time we take the temperature of a sick child, smile and giggle like child, open a bible, lead the rosary, or just sit and listen.

Thank you Crash. You have taught us well. Your ministry is alive through us because of what we have learned from you.

Dear Joan and Family,  

May the love of friends and family carry you through this difficult time.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.  I will truly miss Bob's gentle smile.

Dear Mrs. Callens and family, my deepest condolences and thank you for all the sacrifices you made during our CYO days back in the 70's.  Thank you CRASH for not only the CYO ...but the CCD - the retreats and High-Li.  I will never ever forget the time you taught us "AGAPE"....you not only defined the word....you taught us in your's and your family's actions......
To this day I remember it in my heart...it guided me through nursing school and continues through to the patients entrusted in my care.
I remember how you praised me for how well I polished the chicken wire for the 4th of July float...yes...I still fall for stuff like that....I remember how serious your face looked in describing the job to me....how serious I took the job....and the laughter still lives in my heart.  
I made it all the way to Nurse Practitioner....the confidence you instilled in us through the work of the Holy Spirit continues.  In formation for Third Order Carmelite I was astounded that you had already taught me most of the "tough" theology back in CCD.  I remembered it because you lived it.  You definitely planted many seeds in many hearts...that will continue to blossom throughout eternity.  I am truly blessed to continue to have CRASH as a mentor as his lessons continue to teach.  MERCI.  Now you are sharing in the reward you continue to bring us to....in Christ's arms...love, karen b.

Dear Joan, Anna Marie, Kathleen, Robert, Julie - your spouses,all of the grand & great grandchildren....my prayers and thoughts are with you during this time of loss.  It was such a pleasure for me to take care of Bob during the last couple of years - he was such a gentle and gracious man. I really feel like I have become a part of your family after being in your home for so many visits.  I know that you all have a very special Angel looking down on you each day.  May the Lord Bless each of you with the graces you need at this time.  May Bob rest in the peace of eternal life which he so greatly deserves. 
God Bless you Mr. Callens.

I also have fond memories of Crash and am deeply saddened by his passing. Even though almost thirty years have passed since last seeing him I will never forget his selfless gifts of time patience and energy that he so freely gave to all of us at countless CYO events and Bible studies. His understanding and guidance touched so many lives! I send wishes of comfort and peace to the Callens family. Heaven has one more angel today and his name is Crash!

Eileen "Sox" Kraft

Dear Rob, Thank You for 58 years of true love......I will love you forever......until we meet again.....

Dear Bob, Thank You for 58 years of true love......I will love you forever..... Until we meet again...... Your loving wife.

I love you Dad........ You are always in my heart....... You will be missed more than you could ever imagine...... Rest in peace .

Thank you for 58 years of true love.  Until we meet again, I will love you forever.
                                   Your Loving Wife

DEAR CALLENS FAMILY,PLEASE ACCEPT OUR SINCERE SYMPATHY ON THE PASSING OF BOB.
WE HOPE YOUR LOSS IS SOFTENED BY WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF BYGONE TIMES. SINCERELY,CAROLYN PASS[SUSEL]M.D. AND RICHARD SUSEL,M.D.

It is amazing how 30+ years later this wonderful, spiritual "teacher" has remained so dear and close to our hearts. His quiet, unspoken lessons will remain with me forever. 
To the Callens Family... what a wonderful example of unselfish love you have been for so many.  Thank you and peace be with you.

Just another note to say thanks to "Mrs. Crash" for all her unselfish support to Crash for his time spent with us and appreciation to our bass guitarist Freddie for saying all I wanted to say and more!

My sympathy to Joan and famiy in Bob's passing.  He was very unselfish with his time and my girls benefited so much from all the activities at St. Mark's.  Joan shared his time with so many and it is very much appreciated.

What a blessing Crash was in my life. His words of wisdom and laughs we shared have endured through my life. Our CYO events and retreats were some of the best times of my high school years. He gave so much to so many and we send our gratitude to Joan and all of his family for generously sharing this wonderful man with us.

Crash, you will be greatly missed.  Even though I had not seen you in many years, you would always pop into my head from time to time and I would smile thinking about the great memories of CYO days.  Thank you so much for all that you ever did for everyone in the CYO group.  Your wisdom, your guidance, and your sense of humor helped to shape the lives of all of us who had the privilage of being your friend.  The world is a better place because of you, my friend.

Mrs. Callens, Anna Marie "Chuckie" and Family,
Carole and I are saddened by your loss. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. 
Scott & Carole

My entire career was given to me by you, Crash.  Everytime I do multimedia work I will remember the three men who got me there - God, Dad and YOU.  You were the one who inspired my passion for this ministry.  Thank you soooo much!  We will truly miss you!

Mr Callens was such a great influence on those of us who spent so many hours participating in CYO.  My thanks to the Callens family for sharing him with is -- many of us learned so much from him.  My condolences.

Crash you were so much a part of my formation as  a man.  I am often amazed as I think about the 70's and early eighties at St. Mark CYO and CHS what an incredible group of talented kids I had the pleasure of being with and more importantly how many good decent people were counted among them. Truly inspirational on so many levels.  This explains why we're all still so close today. Woven throughout that were the  lessons learned from and example lived by you.  What you did at St. Marks touched not only the church community but the High School and greater community because you not only taught us such truth as God doesn't make junk, that being a Christian meant more than just obeying the Ten Commandments and that there was no place for show business in worship; but you also commissioned us to go out and say and do the right things regardless of the cost.

                 To Mrs. Callens and the kids, thank you so much for sharing your husband and father with us.  I know he was away from home a lot being with us all.  He was a great man of God though and as is often the case, they and their families are often asked to sacrifice much.  If all that remains is the work we do for God know that he has much treasure stored in heaven.

     Crash taught us so much about ministry and service and what was real and what really mattered.  This man had such an abundance of love and a heart for young men and women, some very accomplished in our young lives, some not as much yet,  but knowing the thread between all of us was the insecurity we all had to some degree and the need for real truth at such an impressionable and formative period in our development.

                     Crash, Thanks for being a father in the faith to me and so many others who i still love today and making me a better man than I would have otherwise been.  You are one of God's great blessings in my life. Thank you for loving us all. We all love you.  Hug Kathy, Eddie and Margie for us in heaven today.

A sweet, fun-loving man...an honor to have shared time with him!

So sorry to hear of your loss. May the peace which comes from the memories of love shared, comfort you now and in the days ahead. You should always know, wherever you may go, no matter where you are, he will never be far away. Tears and sorrow turn to comforting memories.
Ellen and Dean

Rest in peace, Crash. Pray for us who remain.

Bob, thank you for all that you did for us. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Crash was such an influential mentor in so many ways. The many hours we spent with him (or, rather, he with us) with CCD, CYO, church projects, floats, socials, musicals,  and his guidance, spiritual/biblical teachings, patience, and humor, helped make me the man I am today. I thank you and love you, Crash! May you enjoy the Beatific Vision.

We stand on the shoulders of spiritual giants.  Crash, you were a faith filled giant who helped to inspire me to be a youth minister and I now work with your grandchildren at St. Louis!  My prayers are with Joan, the sons and daughters, and all of the grandkids.

So sorry to hear of Crash's passing. I have so many fond memories from my CYO days.  From planning 4th of July floats, to retreats, musicals, dances, prayer services and everything during the year.  He was always there.  He even liked to play funny jokes on the new kids by having them find the chicken wire polish or looking for the trap door on the stage. He kept CYO going.  It wouldn't have been the same without him. My thoughts and prayers to Mrs. Callens and the family.

OBITUARY

Robert A. Callens

April 3, 1930 – August 1, 2012

Sterling-Ashton-Schwab-Witzke Funeral Home of Catonsville, Inc.

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