Bob Hayward
December 28th, 1944 - November 6th, 2023
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Bob's Obituary
Robert “Bob” L. Hayward, age 78, passed away on Monday, November 6, 2023. He was born on December, 28, 1944, to Robert and Marguerite “Anne” Hayward in Detroit, Michigan. On October 18, 1969, he married the love of his life, Karen Ann (Perlaki), and they spent 54 loving years together.
A celebration of life for Bob will take place on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the First Church of God – Stevensville Campus (5767 Red Arrow Hwy) with visiting time with the family taking place from 12:30p.m. until the time of the Funeral Service at 2 p.m. For a more lasting memory, donations in Bob’s name can be made out to the Benton Harbor Salvation Army or Caring Circle Hospice (Lakeland/Corewell Health). Arrangements entrusted to the Stark and Menchinger Chapel (2650 Niles Road St. Joseph, MI 49085.) Feel free to share a memory with the family at www.starksfamilyfh.com.
Born in Detroit, Bob moved to Dearborn at 5 years old where he often rode his bike to his grandparents’ and aunt’s homes. In their youth, he and his brother Richard rode their bikes to Canada where they were stopped by Canadian border patrol who called their mother, after which Bob was grounded for the first time.
Bob graduated from the University of Michigan in 1967 with a B.S.E. in Electrical Engineering. He worked at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn for 29 years, during which time he also obtained an MBA from U of M Dearborn.
Bob and Karen raised their 3 children in Livonia, Michigan, where he volunteered as an usher and leader at Ward Church. Bob enjoyed traveling, golfing, playing cards, and following Detroit and U of M football and baseball teams. Bob also loved history and geography. In his lifetime, Bob traveled to all 50 U.S States, Canada (not by bike!), Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, and Japan, either with his family or for business. He also enjoyed summer vacations with his extended family in Michigan’s U.P. and Houghton Lake, which he remembered fondly from his childhood.
In 1998, Bob and his wife Karen moved from Livonia to St. Joseph where he loved living on Lake Michigan. He and Karen enjoyed beautiful sunsets and frequently walked the beach. Bob served as an elder and usher at Woodland Shores Church in Bridgman for many years. He and Karen played bridge and made several good friends in their new community.
After Ford, Bob worked for Mol-Son in Mattawan, Michigan, for 10 enjoyable years. He retired from full-time work in 2008, and continued to work part-time until 2009 when Bob battled Stage 3 brain cancer. Following surgery and treatment, Bob recovered for several years, but later his health steadily declined from long-term impacts of the brain tumor and treatment. Bob developed dementia, lost his mobility, and eventually his ability to speak sentences. In 2018, Bob moved to assisted living, then home during the pandemic, and eventually to Woodland Terrace in Bridgman. Through his health decline, Bob rarely complained; he still smiled, laughed frequently, and had wonderful relationships with his caregivers.
Throughout his life, Bob was a family man, deeply devoted to his wife Karen and their children. He had strong, loving relationships with his and Karen’s 9 siblings and their spouses, and many of their 23 nieces and nephews who have lived across the U.S. Bob was a giving, generous, honest, and supportive man of integrity. He exemplified those values in his roles as a husband, parent, brother, uncle, colleague and friend.
Bob was preceded in death by his father Robert Hayward, Sr., his step-mother Marion Hayward, his mother Anne Andreozzi, his mother’s husband Gene Andreozzi, and his sister Judy Nash.
Bob is survived by his loving wife, Karen Hayward, children and grandchildren Carrie (Martin) Lohrmann, Hilde, Jonah, and Theo; Brian (Melissa) Hayward, Amelia and Micah; Jason (Shannon) Hayward, Hannah (Earl) Holland and Eliana Hayward; and siblings Richard Hayward, Susan (John) Butler, Connie LaHousse, Gregg (Deb) Hayward, and Randy (Penny) Hayward.
A celebration of life for Bob will take place on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the First Church of God – Stevensville Campus (5767 Red Arrow Hwy) with visiting time with the family taking place from 12:30p.m. until the time of the Funeral Service at 2 p.m. For a more lasting memory, donations in Bob’s name can be made out to the Benton Harbor Salvation Army or Caring Circle Hospice (Lakeland/Corewell Health). Arrangements entrusted to the Stark and Menchinger Chapel (2650 Niles Road St. Joseph, MI 49085.) Feel free to share a memory with the family at www.starksfamilyfh.com.
Born in Detroit, Bob moved to Dearborn at 5 years old where he often rode his bike to his grandparents’ and aunt’s homes. In their youth, he and his brother Richard rode their bikes to Canada where they were stopped by Canadian border patrol who called their mother, after which Bob was grounded for the first time.
Bob graduated from the University of Michigan in 1967 with a B.S.E. in Electrical Engineering. He worked at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn for 29 years, during which time he also obtained an MBA from U of M Dearborn.
Bob and Karen raised their 3 children in Livonia, Michigan, where he volunteered as an usher and leader at Ward Church. Bob enjoyed traveling, golfing, playing cards, and following Detroit and U of M football and baseball teams. Bob also loved history and geography. In his lifetime, Bob traveled to all 50 U.S States, Canada (not by bike!), Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, and Japan, either with his family or for business. He also enjoyed summer vacations with his extended family in Michigan’s U.P. and Houghton Lake, which he remembered fondly from his childhood.
In 1998, Bob and his wife Karen moved from Livonia to St. Joseph where he loved living on Lake Michigan. He and Karen enjoyed beautiful sunsets and frequently walked the beach. Bob served as an elder and usher at Woodland Shores Church in Bridgman for many years. He and Karen played bridge and made several good friends in their new community.
After Ford, Bob worked for Mol-Son in Mattawan, Michigan, for 10 enjoyable years. He retired from full-time work in 2008, and continued to work part-time until 2009 when Bob battled Stage 3 brain cancer. Following surgery and treatment, Bob recovered for several years, but later his health steadily declined from long-term impacts of the brain tumor and treatment. Bob developed dementia, lost his mobility, and eventually his ability to speak sentences. In 2018, Bob moved to assisted living, then home during the pandemic, and eventually to Woodland Terrace in Bridgman. Through his health decline, Bob rarely complained; he still smiled, laughed frequently, and had wonderful relationships with his caregivers.
Throughout his life, Bob was a family man, deeply devoted to his wife Karen and their children. He had strong, loving relationships with his and Karen’s 9 siblings and their spouses, and many of their 23 nieces and nephews who have lived across the U.S. Bob was a giving, generous, honest, and supportive man of integrity. He exemplified those values in his roles as a husband, parent, brother, uncle, colleague and friend.
Bob was preceded in death by his father Robert Hayward, Sr., his step-mother Marion Hayward, his mother Anne Andreozzi, his mother’s husband Gene Andreozzi, and his sister Judy Nash.
Bob is survived by his loving wife, Karen Hayward, children and grandchildren Carrie (Martin) Lohrmann, Hilde, Jonah, and Theo; Brian (Melissa) Hayward, Amelia and Micah; Jason (Shannon) Hayward, Hannah (Earl) Holland and Eliana Hayward; and siblings Richard Hayward, Susan (John) Butler, Connie LaHousse, Gregg (Deb) Hayward, and Randy (Penny) Hayward.
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