Robert Eugene “Bob” Auer, 89, Milford, departed this earth for a heavenly reunion with his beloved wife Carolyn on Sunday morning, Feb. 23, 2020.

Born on Dec. 12, 1930, Bob was the eighth of nine children of George Everett and Lillie (Roberts) Auer. He graduated from Milford High School in 1948. He met his wife, Carolyn Jean Martin, when she was a waitress at the corner restaurant in Bremen. He loved her instantaneously, predicting to a friend upon seeing her for the first time that she would one day be his bride.  They were wed on June 22, 1956, and were inseparable for sixty-three years.

With Carolyn’s guidance, Bob turned to the Christian faith. He was a longtime member of the Milford Christian Church and later the Goshen Christian Church. He read his Bible on a daily basis for many years.

Bob had a lifelong passion for the game of golf. He took his first paid job at the age of nine, working as a caddy at the Tippecanoe golf course, where he went on to become assistant pro. He later held positions as a golf pro at South Shore, Indian Hills, Maxwelton, Wawasee and Willlow Ridge. In 1953, he won the first state-wide assistant pro championship in Indianapolis.  He also designed the McCormick Creek and Big Boulder golf courses.

He worked at Liberty Coach, Warsaw Plating Works, and Bertsch Vending. He was elected to the Milford Town Board in 1979.  He was a salesman for Brock Manufacturing from 1977 until his retirement in 1993.

Bob was an outgoing man who loved to joke and laugh.  He was an expert storyteller who captivated his grandchildren with imaginative tales. He was a hard worker who was always on the move. And he was a very competitive Scrabble player who, even in his last days, could still beat his children.

He never knew a stranger, was never stingy with hugs, and never shy about saying “I love you.”

Carolyn died on Aug. 4, 2019, and in his remaining days Bob desired nothing more than to be with her again. He was also preceded in death by a son, Jeffrey Jay Auer, on June 26, 2012; by his eight siblings: Lewis Everett Auer; Walter Conrad Auer; Eleanor Maxine Auer; Roy Noble Auer; Fred “Ted” Auer; Betty Jane Scott; George “Gobe” Auer, Jr.; and Merietta Thwaits Pulley; and by two grandchildren. 

He is lovingly survived by four children: Roxana Rae (Michael) Klauka; Robin Renee (Aaron) Rovenstine; Jay Alan (Dawn) Auer; and Jerry Lee (Denise) Auer; sixteen grandchildren; and twenty-two great-grandchildren.

A funeral service celebrating the life of Bob will be 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28, at Mishler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 461 West 900 North, Milford, Indiana 46542. A private graveside committal will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Milford. Friends and family can visit with the family from 2-6 p.m. Friday prior to the service.