Robert John Lipowski

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Robert John Lipowski, Sr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife and children, on December 15, 2025, in Strongsville, Ohio, at the age of 76, following a brief illness.

Bob, as he was affectionately known to his family and friends, was born on May 1, 1949, in Cleveland, OH, to his parents, John F. Lipowski and Theodosia P. 'Pauline' Lipowski (nee Kropiak). He graduated from St. Michael the Archangel grade school and later James F. Rhodes High School, both in Cleveland, before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1967. Serving during the height of the Vietnam conflict, he was stationed in South Korea and Thailand, among several other locations, during his tour of duty.

When his military career came to an end, Bob returned home to Cleveland where he married his high school sweetheart and life's anchor, Bonnie Lipowski (nee Foran), on Aug. 14, 1971, with whom he shared 54 years of love and laughter. Together, they had four children: Melissa Leah, Robert John, Jr., Matthew Alan and Rebecca Lynn, and called Brunswick, OH home for the past 40 years.

Bob was most recently employed by the Ferry Cap & Set Screw Company in Cleveland where he worked as an electrician for 42 years before his retirement in 2016.

Though he frequently worked 60-plus hour workweeks, Bob never let his career define who he was as a man. Instead, his roles as son, husband, brother, father, and, later in his life, grandfather, always came first. He served as a pee-wee football coach for the BYS Raiders in the 1980s for both of his sons and it was extremely rare for him to miss an extracurricular activity in which any of his children were participating. It became even more rare for him to miss any activity that featured his grandchildren – whether it be theater, sports, music or academics – once he retired.

Bob was a family man through and through, and to know him was to love him. He will forever be remembered for his gentle, wise, compassionate ways and for always having a solid sense of humor no matter what life threw his way. He shared his passion for boating and fishing with his children from a young age and the same goes for the love/hate relationship he had with the Cleveland Browns. Although his Cardiac Kids never quite made it to an actual Superbowl in his lifetime, you could always find him glued to the television every Sunday afternoon during football season, never once giving up on the fact that next year just might be the year. He was also known to cherish a thick-cut steak, a smooth whiskey and ginger, a pack of Winstons, his leather recliner and watching Hallmark Christmas movies year-round with his wife.

Bob was preceded in death by both of his parents, John and Pauline Lipowski, as well as his younger brother, John Lipowski. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; his children Melissa Martin; Robert, Jr. (Julie); Matthew (Stacy); and Rebecca Kananian (Jack); grandchildren Tyler Martin, Joshua Martin, Ryan Lipowski, Lee Martin, Robert Lipowski, Evan Lipowski, Lauren Lipowski, Addison Lipowski, Kailyn Kananian, and Madilyn Kananian; his many sisters- and brothers-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive visitors from 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Monday, December 22, 2025, at Waite Funeral Home, 3300 Center Road, Brunswick, OH 44212. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, St. Ambrose Catholich Parish, 929 Pearl Road, Brunswick, OH. Following a luncheon at the church, Bob will be laid to rest at 1:15 p.m. at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, 10175 Rawiga Road, Seville, OH 44273.

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