Obituary for Robert Untener

May 16, 1924 - November 7, 2022

Robert Bernard Untener was born on May 16,1924 in Detroit Michigan. He was the second of nine children born to Andrew C. and Anna (Kraynyak) Untener.  The Unteners were the last family to live on Belle Isle, in the Detroit River, leaving in 1956. Bob graduated from St. Charles Borromeo in 1942.

Music and sports played a big part of his life.  He enjoyed singing, playing piano, and clowning around. His sense of humor,  antics and wit were definitely a large part of his charm. Golf, hockey and boxing were among his favorite  sports. While boxing in his late teens, his claim to fame was knocking out the Michigan state champ.  Hockey was also a favorite way of take out his aggression, finally retiring from the goal at age 50. He enjoyed coaching his younger siblings in sports, and later his own 4 boys’ baseball teams. He also embraced teaching his boys and anyone else wanting to learn skating and hockey skills.  He spent many winter nights grooming the ice of the rink he built annually in his backyard. Bob also worked as the golf pro at the course on Belle Isle, and continued playing into his 90's. Handicapping professional and college sports was a pursuit he enjoyed throughout his life, studying the subject at Clark County Community College in Las Vegas.

The wedding of a family friend would forever change the course of his life.  He noticed a young lady across the room, although a bit hesitant to approach.  His mother nudged him on, probably driven by the fact that he was 30 years old and still living at home.  Ruth Morin accepted his advances and the rest is history.  The  couple married in 1955 and produced four boys, Robert, David, Ronald, and Kevin. 

He learned to love and respect the water, venturing from the Belle Isle to work on the iron ore freighters of the Great Lakes.   Earlier in his life, closer to high school graduation, he and his buddies planned on building a raft and sailing from Detroit to Hawaii. One of his favorite songs of that era was “My Little Bimbo Down on a Bamboo Isle”. The raft trip never actually panned out, although that adventurous spirit and desire to travel stayed with him through his life.

From his roots in Detroit, at 52 years old, he and Ruth ventured out settling in Las Vegas for 32 years, followed by 13 years in Fort Myers, FL. He spent the last year and a half of his life in San Clemente, Ca., where he passed away at his home, with a view of the Pacific Ocean. His heart, broken from the loss of his beloved Ruth, gave up and sent him to join her.

The Baron was capable of self-sufficiency, although he was doted over, fed, and cared for by Ruth through the course of their lives. In later years, as her mind became more fragile, Bob stepped up his game and took over the care-taking of his lifelong companion. To the best of his ability he took care of her needs and wants, which included making her pancakes every Sunday morning. This was some accomplishment, considering his cooking skills while raising the boys consisted of hot dogs, scrambled eggs, fried spam, and jelly bread. The man wouldn’t mixed peanut butter with his jelly, he’d never tasted that classic combination.

He was preceded in death by Ruth,  his beloved wife of 66 years, as well as a granddaughter Melyssa Bruck. He was also predeceased by his parents Andrew and Anna, as well six of his siblings. His older brother Andrew C. Jr.(Hope), sisters Maryanne (IHM), Rita Dwyer (Jack), Alice, and brothers Richard (Dianna), and Ken, Bishop of Saginaw. Daughter-in-law Kimberly (Robert) also preceded him. He is survived by his four sons, sister Theresa Weigand (Ron-deceased), and brother Thomas (Bonnie). He is also survived by grandchildren Jennifer (Sara), Kyrie, Reanna, and Amanda, great-grandchildren Bianca, Landon, and Braydin, and the recently added great-great-grandchild Journee. The Baron is also survived by scores of nieces, nephews, in-laws, out-laws and friends that though he was something else.