Robert A. Hauch Sr.

Robert A. "Bob" Hauch Sr., 89, of Benton Harbor passed away on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Corewell Health Merlin & Carolyn Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville. A celebration of life service will be at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, with Pastor Dave Rutter officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 11 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.

Bob was born on May 19, 1935, in New Troy, to Adolph and Caroline (Hebner) Hauch. Before graduation from Berrien Springs High School, Bob began working at Shrader's Grocery Store as a bag boy; this is where he met his future wife, Patricia "Pat" James. The two eventually married on April 6, 1956, in Clemons, Ga. Bob proudly served our country by enlisting in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Professionally, Bob started his employment in the Die Cast industry by working at Duwell as a drafting engineer. In 1969, he and his family moved to Tennessee, and he worked for Walker Die Cast for two years. They relocated to Stevensville where he began working for Precision Tool & Die and later Premiere Tool & Die in Berrien Springs. Bob later bought into United Die Cast in Baroda and then shortly after he started his own business in Benton Harbor called Product Research & Development (PR+D) which he owned for 30 years before he sold it. Not quite ready for retirement, Bob developed another business, Molten Enterprise, which he and his son ran until they dissolved the company, having Bob retire at 80 years old.

When he wasn't working or starting businesses, Bob enjoyed driving around in his little red collectable convertible, camping as a family, golfing at Blossom Trails and Lake Michigan Hills, fishing up north and spending time at the St. Joseph-Lincoln Senior Center, where he won first place in the 2024 golf league at Pebblewood Golf Course in Bridgman. He was a former member and past president of the Congregation of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and past Boy's Pioneer Scout Leader at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. He was a proud member of Trinity Lutheran Church and American Legion Post 105 in Benton Harbor.

Bob is survived by his son, Robert Hauch Jr.; brother, Lee (Susan) Hauch; and nephew, Harry (Cheryl) Hauch Jr.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Adolph and Caroline; loving wife of 66 years, Pat; son, Terry Hauch; and brother, Harry (Barbara) Hauch Sr.