Robert "Bob" Carey

1955 - 2025

Robert "Bob" Carey

February 9, 1955 - December 4, 2025

Robert ("Bob") M. Carey, devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at the University of Michigan Hospital surrounded by family on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

Born February 9, 1955, in Manhattan, New York, Bob grew up near the city until he was 8 years old, when his family moved to the Toledo area. Bob attended Rosary Cathedral School until moving to southeast Michigan, where he graduated from St. Anthony's Catholic School in Temperance, Michigan. Bob then went on to graduate from Bedford High School in 1973. He then joined the Local 55 Ironworkers Union in 1979. He completed his apprenticeship and continued to work with the union for over 40 years until his retirement.

During his career, he worked on projects throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. It was impossible to drive around with Bob without seeing a project he helped build and hearing a few stories about it. He helped shape the Toledo skyline. Bob was proud of the work he did, some of which involved the Toledo Zoo, the Toledo Hospital, Fermi and Davis Besse power plants, the Veterans Glass City Memorial Skyway Bridge, I-280, and more.

Beyond his career, Bob was deeply loving and caring of his family. He and Sue Carey (Siciarz) were married on September 21, 1979, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. They were devoted in marriage for 46 years. Throughout their marriage, they raised their only child, Michelle O'Brien (Carey). He took joy in being her softball coach, became a dance dad, and so much more.

The Carey family remained parishioners at Most Blessed Sacrament, where they continually volunteered in the school, during Mass as ushers, at the annual fish fries and festival, funeral luncheons, and more. Additionally, he served the community as a member of the Bedford Goodfellows.

Bob had many other joys and passions during his life. Bob loved to fix things, build, tinker, and he loved cars. After his retirement, Bob jumped into a classic car rebuild. He and Sue were members of the Antique Automobile Car Club. They frequented numerous car shows, where they showed off his work, a 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7, color gold. Bob also loved sports. He was a lifelong fan of Notre Dame football, as well as University of Toledo women's basketball team, where he and Sue held season tickets and were members of the Igniters Fan Club for several years.

Of all of Bob's titles, he was most proud of being called 'Grandpa.' He loved his grandchildren, Neil and Jude. He was very involved in their lives and enjoyed taking them around in 'Grandpa's gold Cougar.' Every conversation with Bob involved lovely stories of Neil and Jude.

Bob was diagnosed with cancer, multiple myeloma, in 2017, and continued to fight with the disease until he passed due to complications of his cancer. The family appreciates the continual care he received from the healthcare workers he encountered throughout his journey, especially the Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Pat Carey; and his brother, Pete Carey. He is survived by his wife, Sue; his daughter, Michelle (Eric) O'Brien; his grandchildren, Neil and Jude O'Brien; his siblings, Dan Carey, Jean Austin (Carey), John (Linda) Carey, Megan (Barb Cappel) Carey, Jenny Suszka, Cathy (Bill) Henry (Carey); and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 3:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, December 12, 2025, at the Michael W. Pawlak Funeral Home, 1640 Smith Rd. (at Jackman), Temperance, Michigan. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 2240 Castlewood Dr., Toledo, OH 43613. Interment will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Toledo, Ohio.

In lieu of gifts, please consider making a donation to Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

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