Bob Mauer

As family and friends can attest, Robert Mauer truly understood the secret to a life well-lived. He was a constant source of strength, even in the most difficult of times. Nothing brought Bob greater joy than spending time with his family and friends. He valued his loved ones above all else, and as a serving member of his community, he was always willing to help others. Deeply loved, Bob will be dearly missed.
Life in America during the decade we commonly recall as the Roaring Twenties was certainly exciting. Cars were more affordable for the average American as they were being mass produced on assembly lines, and Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart took the world of flight to new heights. Also during this time was great anticipation in the lives of Nicholas and Florence (Rinn) Mauer as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby as the heat of the summer held Elba, Wisconsin, firmly in its grip. Their wait was finally over on August 13, 1927, as they welcomed the baby boy they named Robert into their hearts and home.
Growing up, Bob was a typical young man of his generation in many ways. He was raised in the family home in Whitewater Valley alongside his siblings, John and Jean. Bob would go on to spend the rest of his life in Whitewater Valley. He fell in love with the great outdoors at a young age, and he took pride in getting to know every inch of Whitewater Valley.
During WWII, Bob drove German prisoners of war from their camp near Elba in order to work at local farms. Towards the end of the war, he entered the United States Army and was stationed in Korea, where he was part of the Japanese Occupation Force. Bob was honored to serve his country, and he lived to be the last WWII veteran of Whitewater Valley.
Following his military duties, Bob began working for the DNR at the Crystal Springs fish hatchery. He ended up working with Black Bill, a Bulgarian immigrant who lived in Fairwater Valley. Bill was known for being a rattlesnake collector and would often throw a sack of snakes into the bar. He also pushed Bob's boys' heads into the sacks, and since the boys didn't know that the snakes were harmless they were completely terrified. In 1950, Bob and his brother became the third generation owner and managers of Mauer's Tavern in Elba.
New and exciting changes were on the horizon for Bob as he met the woman of his dreams. Her name was Adeline Rhodey, and the two quickly realized that they were made for each other. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together Bob and Adeline were married in the presence of friends and family on November 22, 1948. The day he married Adeline was the day he considered to be the best day of his life from that day forward. Bob and Adeline were proud of the fact that they never got in a serious fight. Whenever they had an argument, they would talk it over on the back porch over a beer. Throughout their years together, their family grew to include their eight beloved children, Jim, Tom, Nancy, Mike, Diane, Susie, Lisa, and Scott. Bob considered himself blessed to become a father, and he dedicated himself to raising his children. He loved telling them stories, and time spent with his family was always time well spent.
Bob was known to be a man of strong faith. He was a lifelong member of the Catholic church and received all of his sacraments at St. Aloysius parish in Elba. Throughout his life, Bob relied on his faith to get him through the tough times. He strove to be an example of faith to others, and he raised his children to trust in God and lead virtuous lives. Although family vacations were few and far between, they did take day trips here and there. Going out to eat was also a treat for the Mauer family, and they went to Monkey Island and Anchor Inn.
Of all the things Bob loved in life, he treasured his family above all else. He was always so proud of his children, and though Adeline was the disciplinarian the children had a healthy respect for their father. Bob never raised a hand against them. Instead, they would sit and talk through what they had done wrong. Later in life, Bob was overjoyed to become a grandfather and even a great-grandfather. He always made time for his loved ones and considered himself blessed to be surrounded by so many friends and family members.
In his free time, Bob enjoyed pursuing many hobbies. He was a member of the St. Charles American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts. Bob was able to shoot the first legal deer and turkey in the valley. Over the years, he hunted or fished with several Twin City writers including Sid Hartman, Ron Schara, and Ken Salway. Bob was a co-founder of the Whitewater Sportsman's Club and helped organize the Klondike Days celebration. He loved to eat, and he had a big garden that he diligently tended to. He enjoyed watching football, and although he didn't know much about the sport, he hoped to live long enough to see the Vikings win the Super Bowl. Among many family and friends, Bob was known for his reliance on duct tape, often saying that duct tape could fix anything.
When reflecting on the life of Robert Mauer, it is easy to see his unwavering strength and his unconditional love for his family. He was a shining example of faith, and his strong work ethic formed the foundation of his success. Though he will be deeply missed, Bob leaves behind a priceless legacy that his loved ones will proudly carry on in his footsteps.
Robert "Bob" Mauer, 93, of Elba died Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at St. Anne Extended Healthcare in Winona. Bob's family includes his eight children: Jim (Bernadette) Mauer of Elba, Tom (Sharon) Mauer of Plainview, Nancy Roberts of Elba, Mike (Beth) Mauer of Elba, Diane (Morrie) Mauer of Fairfax, Susie (Scott) Rell of Hopkins, Lisa (Greg) Thoe of Kasson and Scott (Kim) Mauer of Navarre, FL, 18 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Adeline in July of 2019, a brother, John Mauer, a sister Jean Majerus, son-in-law, Ivan Roberts, and his parents. A Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Aloysius Catholic Church with the Reverend Tim Biren officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. A visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Hoff Funeral Service in St. Charles and 10 - 11 a.m. Friday at the church. A beer toast for Bob will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The St. Charles American Legion and VFW Posts will conduct military graveside honors at the cemetery. Please share a memory of Bob at his online guestbook at view his video tribute when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com.

Pallbearers will be Paul Mauer, Robert Mauer, Nick Roberts, Wes Strain, Joseph Hughes, Isaac Thoe and John Mauer. Honorary pallbearers will be Lauire Mauer, Hollie Bilderback, Carly Decker, Melanie Lawler, April Mauer, Melina Simonson, Sara Tibbett, Sheila Backlund, Courtney Wells, Sam Mauer and Makala Roberts.