Joseph Robert "Bob" Hauck

Joseph Robert "Bob" Hauck died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, at home from natural causes at the age of 89. Bob was born at his home on Orange Street on March 16, 1942, to Joseph H. and Elizabeth (Eckert) Hauck. He attended St. Anthony Grade School and Missoula County High School, graduating in 1942.

World War II was just beginning for the United States, and Bob wanted to fly. However, because of ether burns in his eyes he was not able to join the Navy V5 as a pilot, and although they offered him training as a navigator, he thought surely the Air Corps would take him as a pilot. They also turned him down, but it was not long before he was called by Uncle Sam to serve in the Army. He ended up in Patton's 3rd Army in the ETO as a platoon leader and survived the Battle of the Bulge and many other horrendous hours on the front line. After almost three years in the Army, he was honorably discharged as a sergeant.

He returned to Missoula and became an apprentice carpenter for Schauer Construction. His mark as a master craftsman has been left in many of Missoula's homes and other buildings. He was a "finish" man and given the jobs of cutting all the things that were expensive, which they wanted to have to buy only once. He worked on St. Patrick Hospital in 1949-50 – the one they tore down in 1999. The stairways he so carefully constructed had to be detonated separately as he built them to last. He also had his hand and hammer in Community Medical Center, Meadow Hill Middle School, City Hall and other public buildings.

He loved the outdoors and built a cabin on Holland Creek for many to enjoy in 1967. From 1971 to 1988, when he retired, he was a carpenter for married student housing at the University of Montana. The residents often presented him with poems or other notes of appreciation for his fatherly and competent help keeping their homes up and running. He was a lifelong member of Carpenter's Local No. 28.

He married Kathleen Froehlich on June 16, 1951, and they celebrated 62 wonderful years together. They danced, raised their children, enjoyed antique cars and tours in them, traveled and volunteered together in many places in Montana. Bob was fondly called "Big Daddy" by all the girls at Big Brothers Big Sisters, where has volunteered since 1989. He was a member of St. Anthony Parish until he went to work for the university, when he joined Christ the King Parish. It became his home and he got at least 12 hugs anytime he was at a service. He and Kathleen were the surrogate grandparents to many children whose own grandparents did not live here.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; their five children and spouses, Mary Kay and Doug Reinemann of Madison, Wis., J. Michael and Robin Hauck of Billings, Julie and Eric Roishoven of Florence, Marlene and Tom Pejsa of Durham, N.C., Jolene Hauck of Missoula and his chosen daughters, Shelly and Brent Harshbarger and Lisa and Russ Svingen of Missoula; his grandchildren, Joseph, Elise (David Marthe) and Rosie Reinemann, Jake, Amanda, Cassie and Desiree Hauck, Kaitlyn (Colton Jeszenka) and Cody Rolshoven, and Kelsey Harbarger; and his great-grandchildren, Libby and Jaxson Hauck of Billings and Ryker Harshbarger. He is survived by his sister, Carol Callas of Billings; and his sisters-in-law, Shirley (Ken) Seman of Great Falls, Marilyn (Lonnie) Harmon of Billings, Jean Froehlich of Missoula and Shirley Froeblich of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members collected as his children brought home their friends, who found a second home at the Hauck house.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Elizabeth; his oldest sister, Ruth Stein Gibford; his brother and sister-in-law, Phil and Gloria Hauck; as well as sisters- and brothers-in-law, Frank and Rosaline Bond, Cecil and Marie Bond, Richard and Rosalie Froehlich, Raymond and John Froehlich.

The family would like to extend their deep appreciation to his caregivers, particularly Lisa, Jessica, Cassie, Kate and Hospice staff and volunteers, who helped in the last few months'

Memorial Mass will be held at Christ the King Parish at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. Funeral arrangements are by Garden City Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either Christ the King Newman Building Fund at 1400 Gerald Ave., Missoula, MT 59801; or Big Brothers Big Sisters at 1520 S. Russell St., Missoula, MT 59801

Read Joseph Hauck's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.