Robert DAXON

1932 - 2021

DAXON, Robert Joseph "Bob" born February 4, 1932 in Manhattan, New York passed away peacefully on May 20, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. Bob attended Our Lady of Good Counsel School until he entered the Army in 1948. Shortly thereafter, on his first overseas assignment in Salzburg, Austria, he met the love of his life, Gertrud "Trudy." They married on September 3, 1953 in Salzburg. Ten years and many countries later, Bob and Trudy began their family and had four children, Christine, Andrew, Patrick and Kevin. After being stationed in several more countries, including two long tours in Vietnam, Bob, as a Command Sergeant Major and Bronze Star Medal recipient, retired from the Army in October of 1977 and moved to Tampa. Once in Tampa, Bob worked for Honeywell Industries for ten years until he retired for the second time in 1987 and became a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Bob loved mentoring, teaching, and coaching all kids, not just his own. He spent many years coaching youth soccer around the world and here in Tampa at the club level and at Tampa Catholic High School. He also helped manage the St. Petersburg Kickers to three national titles, and served as the vice-president of the Florida Suncoast Soccer League. Bob was also a tremendous athlete. He played youth sports, boxed for the U.S. Army, and played in an over-age-70 softball league with the Kids and Kubs in St. Petersburg, Florida. He also was an avid fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Rays. However, one of Bob's greatest joys in life, besides being with his wife and family, was spending time with his grandchildren. "Opa", as he was affectionately called, attended nearly every one of their school functions, games, or events where his love of family, sports, and coaching was most notable. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Trudy; his four children, Christine (husband Kevin McCarron), Andrew (wife Angela), Patrick (wife Kimberley), and Kevin; his six grandchildren, Brendan (wife Christina), Shane, Claire, Grace, Lilly and Lea; his great-grandson, Daxon McCarron; and nieces, Peggy Mushinski, Mary Ann Hahn, Lori Douglas and Kelly Pando; and nephews, Eric Daxon and Michael Daxon. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, George and Myrtle; his sisters, Mary Joan and Margaret; and his brothers, John, George, James and William. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Lawrence Catholic Church on Friday, June 4, 2021 at 10 am Bob will be interred at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Wounded Warrior Project in honor of Robert Daxon will be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to: Gonzalez Funeral Home