Henry Robert Wait, fondly referred to by most as Uncle Bob, was born on the 29th of October in 1924, in St.  Paul, Minnesota, to Della Irene Wait and George Dewey Wait.  He was a Minnesotan through and through, until March of 2013, when he became a Texan.  It was January of 2013 that he became ill with pneumonia and would no longer be able to live alone. His desire was to be with family, and not live whatever remaining time he had in a nursing home; he didn’t want to be alone any longer.  So, we loaded up, said bye to Pleasant Manor, and the beauty of Minnesota, and headed south.

Uncle Bob loved life, yet spent it preparing for eternity.  His goal was to reach Heaven; his prayer was for a happy death.  His many hours spent in Adoration of our Lord at the Chapel in Faribault , Minnesota amazed everyone at such an old ripe age; however, it continued even to the end of his life.   Sleet or snow did not prevent him from going.   Nothing was more important than his faith and family.  The Rosary , if not in his hands, was always in his pocket. 

“Everything in moderation” are words that rang out through our lifetime. 

Uncle Bob loved to walk, listen to music, play golf, and read.  Many will remember in the years past him walking about ten miles a day in Lumberton.  They would pull over to offer him a ride and sometimes he would take it, but always he would smile and tell me that he needed to walk some more because he felt that the person really felt the need to pick him, thinking he was too old to walk that far.  Little did they know that he walked more miles than that a day.

 SPORTS , oh my goodness; he was an avid fan of football, baseball, basketball, and hockey especially. Countless phone calls were made to him during a game involving the Minnesota Vikings or the Minnesota Twins; him knowing, and us knowing, that we were all watching made it all so much more exciting.  I remember one night during last football season that he wanted to call his sister-in-law Dottie (Dorothy Wait).  I explained that it was pretty late, however he said,” just dial the number as she will be up”.  I asked how he knew and he smiled and said, “Detroit is playing”.   

He has spent countless hours in the library, and by that I mean daily,  all of his life.  He was a life-long learner even taking audit classes at local colleges until about three years ago.  He LOVED history.  As his nephew Bob Wait would tell you, “you had to listen carefully to find this out about Uncle Bob, he NEVER boasted about his own pursuits, and accomplishments, but he would be happy to listen to you recount your own.”  He could talk intelligently about any subject, to anyone, at all times. 

  He loved to travel, and did so around our great country, and to Europe.  He loved to drive, or take the bus, but the train was something that was special to him.  That could be because he and his father would take off and travel the United States never staying long in any one place before they move on to another place that they had never visited.  We would be woken up in the wee hours of the morning to begin a vacation every summer.  Needless to say, we had to go north to get out of the heat! 

His father, George Wait, worked for Fora Railroad Company, and when those jobs dried up due to the depression, the family moved back to the Morristown area.  Uncle Bob’s grandfather, who had been killed before his birth in a destructive cyclone (what we know refer to as a tornado) while politicking for Mayor in 1900.  He loved as a young boy to spend time at his grandmother’s farm in Morristown, Minnesota helping them out.  He would hitch a ride with the postman back to Faribault on the weekends.  I remember him telling us that he enjoyed sleeping on their porch. 

Although he was not blind, his eye sight was horrible to say the least, and so the decision of his parents and teachers at Bethlehem Academy was that he attend the State school of the blind in Faribault, Minnesota.    As time went on, his glasses went from ‘bottle glass’ to a thinner lens;  but none the less ,he sat close to the TV, and sat right under the lights to read. 

He worked for forty-six years, three months, and twenty-six days at NSP, a power company, only missing working twice.  Even in the middle of a blizzard, we remember him bundling up and walking to work.  He was a devoted employee. He retired on October 31st, 1989, and yet another chapter of his life began.

Uncle Bob was the eldest of three boys, Gene, and Neil.  I loved to listen to the stories of them growing up, even revealing oh not so long ago that he and Uncle Gene would sneak my dad into the movie theatre, about two times before they were caught.  This was so funny to all of us as we know he would have frowned on that, but sensed that he was sharing that by no means was he a perfect man, and we all believe, and still do.  Humility comes first to mind with Bob Wait; never have we known a more humble man or person. “Some may perceive that as a character flaw, or disorder; however worthwhile humility is, he made it seem natural.” Stated by Bob Wait (glad to have the name), his nephew.

He has numerous cousins from around the country, and two of them were able to be with him for his birthday, Leonard and Emily Blais, formerly of Faribault and currently residing with their daughter in Texas.  He spent much time with his family over the years at family events.  The LaCanne’s, the Paquette’s, the Kern’s, and the Ballentine’s were so very important to him. 

Uncle Bob was preceded in death by his mother, Della Irene O’Neil; and his father, George Wait.  Also preceding him in death are his brothers, Gene in 1989 and his brother, George Neil Wait in 1961.

 He loved his sister-in-law Dorothy Jirik Wait, the widow of his brother Gene, and their children; (Dorothy was here with him for his birthday) his nieces and nephews, all of them dearly; traveling to see each and every one.  Bob and Debbie Wait live in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Bob was just here in Texas to celebrate Uncle Bob’s 90th birthday.  Barbara (Wait) and Paul Wilcox reside in Jackson, Michigan.  Anne (Wait) and Tom Terry live on Vashon Island, Washington.  Mary (Wait) and Ed Schrek live in Winnetka, Illinois, and Uncle Bob especially loved the gatherings at her home.  He also had the opportunity to visit with them during what was referred the Bob-Palooza (the week long birthday celebration).   Patty (Wait) and Chris Bednark live in Onaway, Michigan and Tom and Kathy Wait live in Royal Oak Michigan. He has eleven great nieces and great nephews from his brother Gene’s children; and one great-great niece.

 His sister-in-law, Dorothy Jirik Wait said, “He was a kind and wonderful man.  He NEVER spoke an ill word about anyone.”  These are very true words……

His brother George Neil had two children, Theresa Wait Grimes and Joanne Wait Williams.  This was a very different relationship in that we lived with our grandparents, father, and Uncle Bob from the age of three and two.  Uncle Bob, along with our grandparents, raised us after the death of our father, his brother, in August 1961.  He cared for us, took us out for our first pizza, (and his!).  It was because of him that we were able to go to the movies and get a piece of candy.  He would hand it out a piece at a time with us begging for more.  Words cannot even begin to convey our gratitude to him.  His faith carried us throughout our lives, I am sure.  In between being a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Eagle’s, he was so involved with his parish, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, now Divine Mercy.  He took care of his parents until their deaths……

Theresa gave him one great niece, Dawn Marie Clark, and three great nephews, Billy and Marty McGough and Matthew Grimes: as well as six great-great nieces and nephews.  Joanne gave him one great nephew, Jacob, as well as three great-great nieces and nephew.  Theresa, and her spouse Bruce Grimes, along with their son Matthew, were blessed to have Uncle Bob live with them for twenty one months.  Joanne and David Williams were thankful to be able to care for him, and without Bruce and David he would not have gotten his breakfast so very early in the morning.  

Never an ill word was spoken about anyone, even politicians, although all of his nieces and nephews everywhere can attest to the fact that we certainly didn’t hesitate to express our opinions.  He was plain and simple a good, humble, and holy man.

He spent his final days enjoying the company of those at the Senior Citizen Center in Lumberton, a well as the library here in town, daily.  Alice became very special to us as they together would travel the roads around Lumberton.  However, no place was as dear to him as his church, Infant Jesus Catholic Church.  It was his favorite place to be.  He was always grateful for our priest, and pastor, Father Andrew Moore; and a  great friendship was forged between him and his family; He also appreciated  our Deacons, L. D. Keen and Gary LeBlanc.  They never forgot about him.  The parishioners of Infant Jesus always took the time to spend time with him, and to be honest, were touched in a special way by his faith I do believe.

 Many family members and friends grieve the loss of his physical presence while celebrating the fact that he is now with his Lord and Savior. 

 We are left with many Bob-isms that I hope to share. 

A gathering of Mr. Wait’s family and friends will begin at 6:00 p.m., with a Rosary recited at 6:30 p.m., Monday, November 17, 2014, at Infant Jesus Catholic Church, 243 South LHS Drive, Lumberton. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 18, 2014, at Infant Jesus Catholic Church, under the direction of Broussard's, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.  His cremated body will be interred in Faribault, Minnesota at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Infant Jesus Catholic Church, 243 South LHS Drive, Lumberton, Texas  77657;  Lumberton Public Library, 130 E. Chance Road, Lumberton, Texas  77657; or Paul M. “Pete” Trest Community/Senior Citizen Center, 140 East Chance, Lumberton, Texas  77657.