Robert Floyd Drew

ONTONAGON, Mich. - Robert Floyd Drew, 83, passed away on Monday, Dec. 30, 2013, at Aspirus Ontonagon Long Term Care, where he had resided for the last two years.

He was born July 3, 1930, in Alston, the oldest son of Floyd and Veronica (Clisch) Drew. In May 1943, he moved to Ontonagon with his family and attended the Ontonagon High School, graduating with the class of 1949.

He met and married his high school sweetheart, Helen Moskwa, in 1949.

Bob was employed at Hoefferle's Store for five years. He also worked for the Iron Workers (Turner Construction) which built the White Pine Mine. He was hired at the mine on Sept. 27, 1953, and worked 31 years there until it shut down.

Bob was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church. He joined the Knights of Columbus in 1948 and then joined the Fourth Degree of the Monsignor AJ Rezek of Calumet in 1954. He was also a volunteer member of the Ontonagon Fire Department, joining in 1956, and is still an honorary member. Bob also worked for the Cane Funeral Home for 15 years. He and his sons, Mike and Pat, also worked for the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery. He was a very active member of the local Alcoholics Anonymous group since 1968.

Anyone who knew Bob knew that he had an excellent memory and could recount many "local" tales, right up until his passing.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Helen, on May 13, 2013. Also preceding him were his parents, Floyd and Veronica Drew; in-laws, Joe and Sophie Moskwa; sister, Mary Jane Malcore; brothers, John and Jim Drew; sisters-in-law, Betty Moskwa and Jane Drew; brother-in-law, Cliff Malcore; infant twin sisters; and nieces, Nancy Drew and Linda Moskwa.

He is survived by daughters, Jean (Ray) Jadin, of Lexington, S.C., and Sally (Ken) Jarvey, of Ontonagon; sons, Michael (Patti) Drew, of Ontonagon, and Pat Drew, of Green Bay, Wis .; nine grandchildren, Michael (Nancy) Jadin, of Lexington, John (Susan) Jadin, of Columbia, S.C., Tammy (Neil) Ahola, of Hancock, Renae (Randy Sahs) Dubey, of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., Josh (Anna) Drew, of Negaunee, Jennifer (Jeremy) Raymond, of Negaunee, and Adam Drew, Baily Drew and Dane Drew, of Green Bay; 10 great-grandchildren, Sean Jadin, Taylor Kaiponen, Zach Ahola, Brandon Jadin, Jerry Jadin, Payton Drew, Daylyn Drew, Dyceson Drew, Seth Raymond and Thaddeus Sahs.

Also surviving are his brother, David (Julie) Drew, of Green Bay; brothers-in-law, Joe Moskwa, of Ontonagon, and John Moskwa, of Dundee; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Also surviving is a special "adopted" grandson, Mike Mansell, of Ontonagon. He also leaves behind two very special friends, Brenda Yaklyvich, of Weston, Wis., and Sharon Johns, of Ontonagon.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 23, at Holy Family Catholic Church of Ontonagon.

Friends may call on Friday, May 23, from 11 a.m. until time of services at the church.

Burial will be in the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family suggests that donations be made to the Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital Foundation or the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery.

To view Bob's obituary or to send condolences to the family, please visit memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Hancock has been assisting the family with the arrangements.