Robert Emmett Taugher

St. Clair Shores, MI resident Robert (Bob) Taugher was called home to the Lord, with his beloved wife Evelyn of 67 years by his side, on Sunday October 21, 2018 at the age of 92. Bob was born in Milwaukee, WI, the son of Dr. Victor and Anna (Blommer) Taugher. One of eight children, he is survived by his brother Richard and preceded in death his siblings Pat, Terry, Victor, Donald, Brian and Moninne. Also survived by brother-in-law Calvin Reich.

Bob was blessed with 10 children, and he made every single one of us feel like we were his favorite; Victor, Kathleen, Lawrence (late), Gregory, Jeanette, Nancy, Diane, Daniel, Steven, Shane. There are 18 grandchildren, Nicole, Aaron, Ryan, Michael, James (late), Robert, Thomas, Michelle, John, Brandon, Danielle, Stephanie, Alyssa, Jamie, Lexi, Tyler, Stacey and 9 ½ great grandchildren, Amber, Emily, Evelyn, Alma, Harold, Alvin, Robert, Jameson, Rozenne and baby expected In April.

Although his heritage was Irish/German he convinced us children the Irish genes were dominate until they overpower the German genes and made us 100% Irish. It wasn’t until we were adults we finally realized we were of Irish/German heritage.

In his early years, while growing up he had several interesting jobs like milking three cows twice daily for Uncle George. He had a paper route, and delivered 100 pound blocks of ice for residential ice boxes. One time he delivered a huge block of ice up to a second floor apartment. The renter refused delivery. (Customers in those days had to put a sign in their window when they wanted a delivery of ice.) This apartment had forgotten to take the sign out of their window. As you can imagine, Bob was not too happy about this, but he greatly enjoyed seeing the little children in the neighborhood following his truck, giving them ice chips as he broke down the blocks of ice for delivery.

A month after graduating from High School in June of 1944, an eighteen year old Bob enlisted in the Army. Basic training was at Fort Reilly, Kansas in the Horse Cavalry. After basic training his unit was sent to Fort Ord, California. During a night training exercise, in the dark, he set up his tent in a poison ivy patch. He ended up with poison ivy so severe he spent the next two weeks in the Infirmary in a full body cast. During this time his unit was deployed without him and boarded a ship destined for Melbourne Australia. After picking up a boat load of mules to be used to pack supplies thru the jungles of Burma, the transport ship, along with his entire unit, was sunk by a Japanese submarine.

After military service, he attended Marquette University, graduating with a degree in civil engineering. One week after graduation, following a whirlwind romance, Bob married Evelyn (Reich) on June 16, 1951 in Milwaukee WI. They made their home in New Berlin, WI

Bob’s working career would include many different disciplines in the field of engineering. He started in the drafting department of Allis-Chalmers, Milwaukee WI. Bob later became a project manager at Schlitz Brewing Company, Milwaukee WI. When the Stroh Brewing Company acquired Schlitz in 1982 he was transferred to Detroit MI, where as project manager he was responsible for updating, as well as building, several new breweries across the country. He retired from Stroh’s at age 64.

The Taugher family always enjoyed annual camping trips. Bob’s passion for remodeling was not limited to just houses. He remodeled a 1948 school bus into a kid loving RV, which he nicknamed “The Jolly Green Giant”. He had it painted forest green with white lettering announcing its name. He would drive the old bus (maximum speed of 45mph) up to northern Wisconsin before there were any Interstate Highways. Destinations included Crystal Lake and Apple River. Fellow campers knew when the family arrived with such an iconic bus.

He had many passions in life. Both Bob and his bride enjoyed traveling together to foreign places like, Ireland, China, Hawaii, and Alaska. He spent many winters in their beautiful, remodeled home in Arizona. “If you don’t move the sink it’s just an update”. He earned his pilot license and loved to fly. He enjoyed many hobbies from bee keeping to woodworking. Bob also enjoyed volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity and Joy of Jesus.

Bob sought to instill in all his children a love of God, commitment to family and friends. -Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40

Funeral rights will be held Tuesday October 30, 2018 at Saint Lucy’s Church, 23401 Jefferson, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080 at 9:30 AM with Mass following at 10:00 AM. Burial will be held on Thursday November 1, 2018 at Arlington Park Cemetery, 4141 South 27th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53221 at 11:00 am in the morning.