Robert Dailey Sr.

Bob Dailey was a wonderful, hardworking man, a man of such great patience, and persistence. He faced his share of challenges in life, which only made him more grateful for the blessings he so deeply deserved. Bob was a proud veteran, a loving husband, father and grandfather, and a friend to many. Most of all, he was a man who worked hard for everything he ever had, and taught us to do the same.

Bob's story began on a rainy spring day in 1947, in the little northern Michigan town of Cadillac. Those were exciting times in this country, as thousands of our nation's soldiers returned home victorious from World War II, beginning the Baby Boomer generation. On April 11, 1947, LaVern and Arlene (Richert) Dailey experienced a "boom" of their own, with the birth of a baby son they named Robert Dee Dailey.

Bob was the fourth child of eight in the big family, and together they grew up in Howard City, Michigan. Times were very hard for the family in those days, and they lived in a little house, just 24-feet by 24-feet, with no running water. Everyone helped out around the house, and Bob's primary chore was drawing fresh water from the well for the dishes and the bathtub, a task he did by hand from an early age until he left home.

While his parents couldn't provide for many extra-curricular activities for him, Bob worked hard to find his own way. He would help his friends with various chores, once receiving a year's sponsorship in the Cub Scouts as payment!

Bob attended Tri-County High School, where he enjoyed competing in the pole vault and the low hurdles on the track team. He would have liked to have done more, but his household chores kept him from participating.

Bob was anxious to set out and find his own way in life, so just two weeks after he graduated, he enlisted in the Marines. He received a great gift his first day of boot camp - his first-ever new pair of shoes! He had always had hand-me-downs growing up.

Robert and Mary's families had been acquainted for years, when Robert "Bob" Dailey returned home on leave while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in April of 1967, his mother, Arlene Dailey and Mary's grandmother, Alice S. Streeter arranged for Bob and Mary to become reacquainted. Mary was kind of sweet on the handsome soldier, and baked him a birthday cake, thus beginning a short courtship. They were married on July 5, 1967, in the gorgeous seaside town of Beaufort, South Carolina, beginning many wonderful years together. When Bob was home on leave from the military, he would entertain his younger siblings by demonstrating his military experience as an Ammo Tech by blowing up different explosive concoctions he created, in the family driveway.

The newlyweds moved around to wherever Bob was stationed, including North and South Carolina, Maryland, California and even Hawaii. As they moved, their family grew, and they were blessed with two wonderful sons, Robert and Brian, both born in the Carolinas. When Bob was overseas, Mary and the boys went to live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, awaiting his safe arrival home.

In 1975, his service to his country complete, Bob headed back to Grand Rapids, ready to settle down with his family. He missed the military life so much, he later joined and served in the US Naval Reserve for a short time. He found work at the General Motors plant there, first as a press operator and later as a hi-lo driver. He enjoyed the work, and always found something to keep himself occupied, whether it was helping his coworkers, or doing his daily crossword puzzle! (And always the Detroit Free Press crossword; the others were too easy.) Bob was quite a character at GM and formed many stong bonds with his coworkers.

As hard as he worked on the job, Bob also worked equally hard to make up for lost time with his family. His sons don't remember a time when their father wasn't there for them, and he enjoyed every minute with them. He preferred to let Mary handle the discipline, although if he ended up getting involved, it wasn't a good thing for the boys!

Bob loved taking his family on vacations, especially adventures to amusement parks. He loved all the rides, too, finally getting a chance to experience the joys of a youth he never had. Later in life, he and Mary enjoyed traveling around the country in their motorhome, taking a memorable trip out west to Washington to visit his brother, seeing the many fantastic sights along the way. And while Mary and Bob had some friends they socialized with on occasion, Bob was in truth a homebody, content to watch TV or do the crossword in his favorite chair. He was also handy around the house when he was motivated to do a project. Bob enjoyed spending time playing arcade and first person shooter games on the customized computer his son Bobby built for him and an occasional trip to the casino.

Bob was very much a creature of habit, perhaps from his days in the military. He got up at the same time each day, ate the same thing for lunch every day for years, and enjoyed the same restaurants, the same routines. He was very particular about the length of his pants, and even took time to iron his dollar bills to use in the vending machine!

Bob was a quiet, reserved man, who could be opinionated and stubbornly stuck to his principles, but as he got older, he mellowed a bit. He especially had a soft spot for his grandkids, and seeing them always brought a smile to his face. He also enjoyed the many pets he and Mary had over the years, with their toy poodle Cookie his favorite, and the daughter they never had.

Sadly, Mary began suffering from COPD, which affected her breathing, and she died in September of 2005. Bob took his beloved wife's loss especially hard, though being a strong believer in the Lord, he persevered. He retired after more than 30 years at GM in November 2005, bought a shiny silver Cadillac, and began to make new friends, who knew him as "Cadillac Bob." He particularly enjoyed helping his friends at a few of the local gas stations where he would help clean the outside lot at night, earning them high marks for exterior appearance. He also recently began bowling and joined a league.

Sadly, Bob went to the hospital one day and it was discovered he had leukemia. He underwent treatment, although afterward he became sick with an infection, and sadly died at the hospital on Sunday, April 1, 2007, at the age of 59.

Bob was a wonderful, hardworking man, a man of great patience and persistence. He loved his routines, but there was nothing routine about him to those that knew him. Bob was a proud veteran, and a loving husband, father and grandfather, yet most of all, he was a man who earned everything he ever had, and taught us to do the same. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, in 2005; his brother, Dennis Dailey and his parents Arlene and LaVern Dailey and his father-in-law Michael H. Buckley. Bob is survived by son, Robert (Rosemary) Dailey, Jr.; grandchildren, Megan and Nathan Dailey; son, Brian (Cori) Dailey; grandsons Lukas and Kristopher Dailey; siblings Ron (Barb) Dailey, Richard (Esther) Dailey, LaVern Jr. "Tubby" (Rethia) Dailey, Ronelda Dailey, Valinda (Mark) Dykhuis, Percy (Mary) Dailey, Renee (Jim) Van Stee; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Mike (Sue) Buckley, Esther (Bill) Haywood, Steve (Laura) Buckley, Lynne Buckley (Nancy Kramer), Becky (Bill) Campbell; mother-in-law Mary Ellen Streeter-Buckley-Brazaski; step-mother, Jane Dailey; nieces, nephews and special friends including Marcia and her family. Friends are invited to meet with Bob's family on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE where the funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 5 at 11 AM with Bishop Charles Colegrove officiating. For those who wish, memorial contributions to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are appreciated. To read more about Bob's life, to share a favorite photo or memory or to sign the online register, please visit www.lifestorynet.com.