Robert Charles Mauris

Robert C. Mauris February 28, 2010 Winnebago Robert C. (Bob) Mauris, age 83, of Winnebago, died Sunday, February 28, 2010 at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30AM on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Winnebago, with Father Leo Koppala and Father Eugene Hackert officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Winnebago. Visitation will be from 4-8PM on Friday, March 5, 2010 at Spencer-Owen Funeral Home, Winnebago and continuing one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Robert Charles (Bob) Mauris was born in Manyaska Twp., Martin Co., Minnesota on June 30, 1926 to J.Francis and Agnes E. (Bublitz) Mauris. The family lived in the Sherburn area until March 1, 1932, when they moved to rural Winnebago. He attended rural school Dist.13 until January of 1935 when he then transferred to the Winnebago Public School. He graduated from Winnebago High in 1944. Bob worked for the Fairmont Canning Factory from 1944-1947, and then went to work for the First National Bank in Winnebago until 1951. He worked for the United States Treasury Dept. as Assistant National Bank Examiner from 1951-1954. Bob married Lois Jean Angle on September 6, 1952 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Winnebago became their home. He became a bookkeeper for Essler Chevrolet from 1954-1958 and also was the secretary for the Winnebago Home Building Assn. 1955-1967. In June of 1958 he decided to open his own accounting firm, working the Stokely stack south of town at night, and then doing taxes during the day. Bob organized the first Bowling Leagues in Winnebago and moved his accounting office to the bowling alley after it was built. He managed and was part owner of Lucky Strike Lanes for several years. He drove school bus for the Winnebago Area School District and was the local Justice of the Peace for many years. His dedication to helping and serving people began in 1955 when he was 29 years of age. He became a Volunteer Firearms Safety Training Instructor. He instructed the area youth for 23 years. In 1965 when his father had a severe heart attack, the community did not have an ambulance service. He made a promise that he would endeavor to make sure that the Winnebago Community would never again be without one. In 1970 he was appointed to a Task Force Committee to establish a Municipal Ambulance Service, procure an Ambulance and arrange for the required training courses, and on August 1, 1970 the Winnebago Area Ambulance began serving the community. He was captain and Administrator of the Ambunauts from 1970-1993, retiring in 2000. He was a volunteer Red Cross Advanced First Aid Instructor, conducted refresher training courses for the local crew as well as neighboring Ambulance Services. He was a CPR Instructor, teaching community Heart Saver Courses to the public and private industry and to ambulance personnel. Bob was presented the 1993 KEYC Good People-Jefferson Award for his good citizenship in showing care and concern for others. He was Past Secretary of the Winnebago Chamber of Commerce, Past President, Secretary, and member of the Kiwanis Club and Winnebago Sportsman’s Club, and treasurer of the Local United Fund for over 18 years. He helped organize the first Moto-Fest in 1979 and was a committee member for 10 years. In 1990 he was appointed as a member of the Municipal Tasc Force Committee for the City of Winnebago. In 1992 he was inducted into the Winnebago Hall of Fame and was Grand Marshall that year for the Moto-Fest Parade. He was actively involved in church as communion distributor for mass and to shut-ins, served on the parish council and finance committee, lector, and chairman for St. Mary’s cemetery board along with many other duties when someone was needed. He loved to go fishing up to Lake of the Woods with Lois, going fishing out to South Dakota with his fishing buddies, turkey hunting with family and friends, monthly card club and summer camping, fishing, and vacation experiences with his family. He enjoyed making wine, growing tomatoes, sage, and peppers, and making pancakes and breads with his sourdough starter. His commitment and dedication to the Winnebago Community, his accounting firm, and his family and friends will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife Lois, his daughter Lola (Douglas) Baxter, son Rick (Amy) Mauris, all of Winnebago, and son Randy (Melanie) Mauris, Rochester. Seven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, brother Russell Mauris, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and sister Mary Ann Anderson, Atlantic, Iowa. He is also survived by three brother-in-laws, two sister-in-laws, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and many other relatives.