Robert Franklin "Bob" Openshaw

Robert "Bob" Openshaw, age 74 of Milford, passed away on October 4, 2024.
Robert is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Linda (Longthorne), and sons, Lee (Reene) and Matt (Ann) and his Grandchildren, Evan, Jake, Lillian and Abbie.
As Bob would tell you, he was born in the exact middle of the century, June 15, 1950, in Detroit to Robert W. Openshaw and Barbara (Jurkeiwicz). The Openshaw's lived in Detroit until 1957 when they moved to Hill Street in Milford, where Bob would end up spending his last years in the same house.
Bob met the love of his life when he 16 and Linda Longthorne was 14. He said he loved her from afar 3 years to their meeting. They were married on July 11h, 1970 and got their first apartment on Pleasure Street and soon bought a house in Highland. On October 17, 1971, Bob and Linda had their first son, Lee Derek and Matthew Robert joined them on February 2, 1976. Their house was always filled with laughter and music. In 1981, Bob's parents moved to Florida and Bob and Linda and Lee and Matt moved into Bob's childhood home on Hill Street in Milford. He would live in that house from 1957-1970 and then from 1981 to his last days of 2024.
When the cards for health were being dealt, Bob wasn't very lucky. As a child, he spent months in Herman Keifer Hospital being treated for Polio. This would have lasting effects that would plague him with back pain and major surgeries affecting the rest of his life. Even with all the pain he was in, he could make his grandkids laugh like no one else could.
Those that knew Bob (or Ope to many), knew one thing, he loved Linda endlessly. Their love was famous. Romeo and Juliet's love took a back seat to theirs, probably in a '69 GTO. Their love was proven to be breakable. It was proven that nothing but October 4, 2024, would separate them. He loved his sons immeasurably. As kids, he took them on journeys that would forever be etched in their memories. Pennies on the railroad track and carving their names in trees. Walks in the cemetery with pretzel rods and Pepsis. Bob was a talented musician, and he passed this and his love (a vast understatement) of The Beatles on to them. The three would have in depth conversations about the complexities of the arrangements, the beauty of the harmonies, any other intricacies of the fab the three could think of, for hours and hours. Or they would have jam sessions in the one of the son's bedrooms playing Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Stooges, The Who, etc., much to the neighbor's chagrin.
Those that knew Bob, know he was the embodiment of a jacket of leather and a heart of gold. A smile that was contagious. Kind blue eyes that swooned. Smart and hilarious.
Those that knew Bob will miss him greatly.
A Celebration of Life will follow in the coming weeks.