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In Memory

Robert M Hawley - Class Of 1952 VIEW PROFILE

Robert M Hawley

Robert M. & Edith Pauline (Josefsberg) Hawley

Edie: February 15, 1936   ~   May 5, 2020   84 years

Bob: December 8, 1934   ~   February 27, 2024    89 years

Edith P. Hawley (Edie) passed during the pandemic on May 5, 2020, at the age of 84; Robert M.(Bob) passed in his home with his loving family by his side on February 27, 2024, at the age of 89. Due to the regulations of the pandemic, the family was unable to have a publicly attended service for Edie. During his final days, Bob expressed wishes to provide a joint service for both he and Edie, as an expression of his endless love and dedication for her. Bob and Edie were married on August 5, 1956. They were deeply committed to each other, their family, friends, and work colleagues.

Edie was born in Vienna, Austria in 1936 and along with her parents fled the Holocaust to the United States through Ellis Island at the age of four.  Her brother Samuel was born on the ship during their voyage. Edie was a graduate of Mishawaka High School class of 1954. Edie’s professional career began in retail, she then went on to work for Waterfield Mortgage Company as an administrative assistant and finished her career at the University of Notre Dame working in both the Graduate School and the Psychology Department. She was highly valued in her role, both at the Graduate School and the Psychology Department before she retired in 1998.  

Bob was born in South Bend, Indiana in 1934. Bob was a graduate of Riley High School class of 1952. He was actively involved in the South Bend community his entire adult life.  After high school graduation he worked at Studebaker Corporation, McCaffery Company, I&M Electric and Colonial Mortgage.  His time spent in the mortgage business led him to his successful career in real estate. He began his 50-year tenure in real estate in 1974. Bob started at Anchor Sales before moving on to become the sales manager and partner at Smith-Zeisz Realty; later then known as Century 21 Jim Dunfee & Associates.  For the past 12 1/2 years he worked as the new agent mentor and coach at the Cressy & Everett Ironwood real estate office. He was a mentor to dozens and dozens of realtors that went on to have successful careers of their own.  It was clear to all that nurturing and encouraging the success of his fellow realtors is what brought him joy, and equally clear how he was beloved by all who worked alongside him.

Bob served as an active member of the Home Builders Association of St. Joseph Valley for more than 50 years, where he held several positions, including president in 1979, secretary in 1968 and 1977 as well as the Panorama Chairman in 1969. Bob was also one of the founders of the Penn High School Building Trades Program that began in 1968.  He served as a past president, secretary, and board member to this day. A scholarship was created in his name in February 2023 to honor his many years of dedicated service to the Penn High program.  In May 2023, the first “Bob Hawley Legacy Scholarship” was awarded to a student pursuing a career in the building trades field.

Additionally, Bob was appointed to the St. Joseph County Area Plan Commission in 1999, and the Area Board of Zoning Appeals in 2005, where he continued to serve to this day.  In recognition of his many years of dedicated service, St. Joseph County Commissioners awarded him a key to the county.

Edie supported Bob in all his outside endeavors, and both stayed involved with their high school reunions and committees.  Edie was a member of Tri-Kappa, a service sorority, and the ladies auxiliary of Home Builders Association.  Bob was an avid golfer and continued to play 2-3 times a week during all of 2023.  Bob enjoyed his monthly poker games, also known as “choir practice”.  Edie had a deep love for shopping and home décor. Both loved seeing live shows, attending ND games, and traveling to Florida each year.  Most of all, they loved spending time with their family and attending all their grandkid’s extracurricular activities.

Bob and Edie are survived by their two daughters, Susan Cullen (Kevin) and Patricia Zelmer (Dan), grandchildren Molly Brashear (Josh), Whitney Schroeder (Scott), Ben Zelmer (Hope) and Conner Zelmer, great grandchildren Amelia Schroeder, Anne Zelmer and Huck Brashear; step grandchildren, Hanna Kelley (Trevor), Kris Cullen (Emily); step great grandchild, Kaitlyn. Edie is preceded in death by her parents, Molly and Joe Josefsberg, and her brother, Sam Josefsberg.  Bob is preceded in death by his parents, John and Betty Hawley, and his brother, William Hawley.  Survivors include Bob’s sister, Juanita Gray (Denny), brother, Jim Hawley (Wendy), sister-in-law, Mary Hawley, and many nephews and nieces. 

A visitation for Bob and Edie will be held at the Palmer Funeral home, the Hickey Chapel, on Cleveland Road in South Bend, Indiana, on Friday, March 8, 2024, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday morning, March 9, 2024, at 10:30 AM, at the same location.  Following the service, Bob will be interred next to Edie at St. Joseph Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Center for Hospice Care at https://foundationforhospice.org/donate or to the Penn High School Building Trades Program.

03/01/2024 djb

 

 

https://www.palmerfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Robert-Hawley



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