Robert Andrew Karafa

Obituary of Robert Andrew Karafa

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Robert "Bob" Andrew Karafa passed away on Saturday, September 6 th, 2025, after a heroic battle with dementia. He was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Ann; sister, Dolores who died in childhood; and wife, Taraiz Karafa. Bob leaves behind to cherish his memory, his daughters, Lorri Karafa Guegel and husband Anthony, and Nicole Karafa; brother, Kenneth Karafa and wife Helen; grandchildren, Alexander and Genevieve Guegel; and a host of many other family and friends.

Bob was born on July 10, 1935, in Muskegon Michigan and joined the Marines after graduating from high school. He soon transferred to the Air Force where he traveled the world and served during the Vietnam war; and retired from in 1974.

Bob met his wife, Taraiz, in Austin Texas. They were married for 48 years until her death in 2021. Together, they moved to Pearland Texas in 1975, and it quickly became home. Bob would consider himself an honorary Texan, he hated the cold and would complain when the temperature got below 65 degrees.

Bob loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting and working out. He famously asked the doctor in the ER, after he broke his leg, how many miles he could run in his boot. Bob was a very resilient person; nothing kept him down for long. He survived Melanoma where they gave him 6 months to live almost 20 years ago, a couple of head injuries, and walked away from being hit by a semi-truck. Bob loved dogs, but his wife didn't, so in his later years he got to help Nicole with her dog Zero, which made him extremely happy.

The other thing that made him extremely happy was his grandchildren, Alexander and Genevieve. He enjoyed spending time with them and playing with him. He always made time to go to their events or support them. Bob also had a special fondness for a few of his nieces and nephews who lived with them for a while and would always "clean the pool for them". Bob will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Funeral services for Bob will be held on Monday, September 15 th, 2025, at St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland, Texas. Bob's family will receive guests during a visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 am, with a Rosary to be recited at 11:00 am. The funeral Mass will begin at 11:30 am, and interment will take place at Houston National Cemetery at 2:00 pm on the same day.