Robert John Florian Sr.

1940 - 2016

Florian, Robert John, Sr.
Age 75; of Mt. Pleasant; passed away Friday, July 15, 2016 at MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland, from complications arising from diabetes. A Funeral Mass for Bob will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 30, 2016 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Irishtown with Father Fred Kawka officiating. There will be a visitation held at Berry Funeral Home in Shepherd on Friday from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. Bob was born at home in Shepherd on November 1, 1940, the fourth of eight children of William and Bernice (Quinlan) Florian. Bob distinguished himself as an All-State football player at Shepherd High School, from which he graduated in 1958, and went on to play Division One football in college, first at the University of Wyoming and then at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He began his career as director of housekeeping for Douglas County Hospital in Omaha and continued working in that field when he returned to Michigan with his children in the late 1970's. Wherever Bob lived, he was active in the Church, establishing or working with prayer groups in Tucson, AZ, Colorado Springs and Parker, CO, and Pensacola, FL, with a particular focus on men's spirituality and RCIA. Bob was a member of St. Vincent de Paul parish in Shepherd and, in recent years, mentored other parishioners there. Bob is survived by his five children, Robert Jr. (Lori) Florian, Stephen (Elizabeth) Florian, Timothy (Karen) Florian, Christine (Robert) Ambrose, and Matthew Florian; his former wife, Patricia (Ready) Mallett; nine grandchildren; his six siblings, Roseanne, William, Kathleen, John (Linda), Michael (Judith) Florian, and Celine (Michael) Austin; as well as his sister-in-law, Elma Florian. Bob is preceded in death by his brother, James Florian. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the American Diabetes Association.