Robert Wonogas Obituary

I will be putting something together of some memories of grandpa if anyone would like to contribute any pics,sayings,quotes,song titles, etc that may remind you of him please do email/forward me them. i should have this project done by april 1st anyone thats wishes to have a copy i will copy it for you. thank you

October 21, 2008




…and so it has been troubling me:


My dad had many friends in his group. Was there really a “Grand Trio”, though? It took two nights and the morning of the second that I woke up with the answer. Something in my dreams must have guided me to simply look at the names within this puzzle of mine.

Rich and Judy, Rich and Georgian, Jerry and Judy, Rich and Anita etc…

…and there it was – Uncle Joe (Bekin), Uncle Paul (Daraska) and my dad (Uncle Bob).


The childhood friends of my dad who I was introduced at a very young age to call uncle – yes, they could be the “originals”. Yes, they could be the “beginning” of the circle of friends that expanded into the much larger group of later years. The tricycle days on Green Street and the other memories with each other. Maybe even before the “girls” came into the picture. Yes, I now see “The Grand Trio” in full light. The Grand Trio who came in first to win a lasting friendship.


The 4th race at Hawthorne Race Course in Memory of my Dad on October 18, 2008.
The #1 horse that we pulled out of Jerry’s Handicapping Bag.
The horse named “Grand Trio” that Gail Bekin spied right away to be the right one.
The horse that so many others picked to come in first on their own.

Oh, it was a wonderful and great day at the races with family and friends. So many came out to honor my Dad and to show support for my Mom and our family. It was a pleasant surprise to feel the love and presence with the one who brought us all together. In spirit he was there – in memory we hold – and the good times to carry on.


Thank you all.


Sincerely,

Mike Wonogas

Sorry to hear recently of Bob's passing - even though separated by distance and years, still have fond rememberances of a family man, friend and team mate, my prayers are with Bob, Lori and family.

We all miss you....Things will never be the same however I know you are smiling down on us......Thanks for being the Dad I never had.....BTW I got the Jazz going all the way ....U in?

I miss him sooo much.....the tears will never go away.....it's just not the same.....love you grandpa...

My Dad had one favorite story that he loved to share with you over and over again. He was always filled with excitement and animation as he relived the time that his son, Mike, caught a “shark” in Wisconsin Dells. I never added or joined in when he told this story because basically he nailed the facts exactly and…it was HIS story. So, over the last thirty years, smiling, laughing and listening, I enjoyed it over and over and over again.

While on a traditional Dells vacation with his parents, siblings and extended family, his youngest son, awake very, very, very early, was fishing alone on the dock. Young Mike occasional ran into some fish that he had trouble unhooking himself. On this particular morning, Mike brought in a few of these fishes -into the cabin and into his sleeping parents bedroom. Mike would bring his pole, line and hooked fish into the room and slowing guide the fish over to the bed. He would then politely ask his dad for a little help. From my eleven year old wide eyes, I would see dad roll over with HIS eyes closed, feel for the fish, unhook the fish, hand it back to me and then roll back over facing mom again. This whole process repeated itself two more times but then…

CRASH / BAM – the front screen door crashed open and violently sprang back shut.

“DAD, DAD. YOU GOT TO COME DOWN TO THE PIER!!! HURRY!”

“I GOT A SHARK!!”

(CRASH / BAM)


Dad said that he turned to Mom and said that he thinks he better get up for THIS one. So, Dad helped Mike land his shark that morning and a story and a great childhood memory was born. The shark turned out to be a twenty five pound carp with dorsal fin. We both sure loved that memory together.

This story says so much about my dad, Bob Wonogas. My dad selflessly provided me, my brothers and sister a very, very happy childhood. His good ways never changed so our kids have been fortunate to have many years with him also. Thank you for the good times Dad. I love you and already miss you. Your youngest boy, Mike Wonogas

Bob will always be remenbered as a dear friend and as a brother.He will always be in our hearts and prayers.

It has been years since I have seen Mr. W or any of the Wonogas gang however I recall nearly spending everyday of my childhood with them back in the day when I grew up two doors down from them on Green Street. Mr. W was always the youngest, coolest looking dad of all the dads and I think I lived in the Wonogas yard from age 6 to 12 so I'd run in to him from time to time :-)
My thoughts are with all of the Wonogas's..miss you guys..glad mom,Kath and Stevie were able to represent all the Totaro's at the service...take care

I am really going to miss Uncle Bob. I'm sad that he was taken so early. I wish I could have spent more time with him. Bob and Lori and the whole family have always accepted me, Jake, Joel, my mom and Valerie like we were always part of the family. I am so proud to be part of a family that is so close. I love you all.

If I could find my right words to memorialize my dad on this wonderful site, I would love to share it here with many of his family and friends. At this moment though, my thoughts are toward the families, friends and all those who were together with us through this difficult time. Every word spoken, call made, hug felt, gift given, food cooked and tear shed, eased so slightly the great pain that we have been feeling this past week. So, I thank you all for all your love shown to me, my family and toward my father, Bob Wonogas. I will miss him greatly.

Dearest Wonogas Family,

Even though he was not our real uncle, he was and always will be our Uncle Bob. We have many great memories and he will never be forgotten. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Bob you will be missed,dear friend.

We had just saw Uncle Bob the week before he passed. Him and Aunt Lorie had come by my grandparent's house to see our new daughter. I remember he shook Chloe's hand and said "She's too little yet" about holding her. At least the baby got to meet good ole' Uncle Bob before he left us. We'll miss you and we'll always love you Uncle Bob.

You cannot say enough about Uncle Bob. He was a true man and did anything he could to make the people around him a little more cheerful. He always knew what to say when you were feeling blue. He had a great grip on life and always had his head on straight. He loved to joke around to keep the mood light, even in the darkest situations. He is the type of man that every little boy should look up to as a role model, cause that's what he was. If I can become half the man uncle Bob was, I will consider myself lucky. Rest In Peace Uncle Bob.

He was Uncle Bob to us and I will always remember his clever sense of humor, his ultra cool persona, his immense strength and most of all his all encompassing Love. Uncle Bob knew how to make each of us feel special and welcome.The party was always at Aunt Lory's & Uncle Bob's house, Always. Like a supporting brick of our families foundation has been removed is how this loss feels for us all. Still, we must be glad he is with our Loving Father in Heaven now and display the strength he taught us well by his example. We'll Love you always Uncle Bob. Cheryl, David, Christopher, Rachael and Ambria Bernardi

Uncle "Bob-the-Builder",
Your sudden passing leaves an enormous hole in our hearts! Thank you for all of the years of laughter & magic tricks! We will cherish every memory, miss you terribly and love you always!

Uncle Bob was such a great man. Words can't even begin to describe you. You used to play games with us as kids and made us laugh so hard. I am just sorry my kids won't be able to get the chance to laugh with you. I love and miss you so much!

To the BROTHER we both never had, who,s parting leaves a hole in our hearts. You will be missed today, tomorrow and always.

Love forever, Joe & Cookie

This is soo difficult and frustrating...I am mad that he is gone I love him soo much and will miss him soo much....I feel honored to have been his first grandchild at such an early age and grateful that I have 7 more cousins (grandchildren) born also at an early age after me to have had the extended time to know and grow with him.....
We must remember the great times, the race track gatherings, the family vacations, the numerous wood haven trips, holidays, birthdays, Bridgeport BBQ’s, Sox games, fishing trips, movie nights, boxing nights, sun bathing, life advice, horse advice, gambling advice, knowledge, history, family sayings, massages, paper, scissors, rocks etc
We must be there for Grandma, visit her, help her, and build more great memories throughout the upcoming years. Furthermore give her the strength to carry on through all of us and Grandpa's memories as he would have intended it.
I will miss him so much and it will be difficult to grasp that we will not be hearing his story telling voice, silly jokes, specialty drinks, and aggressive sports betting at the next family gathering….

My advice to others is to really appreciate the time you have with your loved ones and cherish those memories because you honestly never know when it's our time to go…
To close my thoughts, my grandfather was a great man with a wonderful life. And I hope too that one day I will find the love, marriage, success, respect, and enjoyment in my life as he had found in his.

The most amazing thing that I will always remember about you is the love that you outwardly and proudly showed to your family. You were the best grandpa ever and I know that your nieces and nephews also respected you and loved you as did all the members of our family. I can just imagine the amazing time that you are having right now with Adam, Tommy, Bill, Uncle Mike and Aunt Rusty and others that we've all loved and lost. It was your time to go though but much too soon for us. But we don't get to decide. Thanks for the memories. Squeeze it easy.

Just a old pressroom friend of Roberts/