Robert John Roe

Robert "Bob" Roe was born in 1938 in Milan, Michigan. He grew up living with his grandparents and working on farms, primarily with his good friend Ted Heath on the Heath family farm. In high school, Bob was in Future Farmers of America, Varsity Club and track but he excelled in football. He was a defensive end and was named Most Valuable Player his senior year, a rare honor for that position. He graduated from Milan High School in 1957 and then attended Detroit Bible College. He met Shirley Austin at a youth group mixer and famously paid a kid a quarter to go over and get her phone number for him. Bob and Shirley were married on August 26, 1961 at Calvary Baptist Church on Forest Ave. in Plymouth. At the start of their marriage, they led youth groups at Calvary Baptist and Salem Church. A few years later, they moved to Denver, Colorado so Bob could attend Denver Theological Seminary. They moved back to Plymouth around 1967 and Bob worked for his father-in-law at Austin Vacuum. Not long after, he got a job at Ford Motor Company on Sheldon Rd. in Plymouth where he would work for the next 30 years. He worked his way up and became Foreman of the Injection Mold Division. He worked midnights for most of those years so he could spend more time with his family. Bob and Shirley raised two daughters, Lori and Julie. They attended First Baptist Church of Plymouth {now Praise Community Church} and were both very active throughout 55 years of membership. Bob served as a deacon, trustee, pastoral search committee member and was a Sunday School teacher for many years, mainly for the senior members of the congregation. He organized many outings with that group and brought his family along. He used his skills from Bible college and would give occasional sermons at churches while Shirley and the girls would provide the music for the service. In his retirement years, he mowed the church lawn along with fixing the mowers and church vehicles when needed up until just last year. Bob was known for fixing things for everyone--mowers, bikes, cars, and did many home improvement projects like installing doors and windows and putting on new roofs. His passion for football never left, he loved watching U of M games the most but would watch any team that was playing. In their retirement, Bob and Shirley welcomed their 3 grandchildren Benjamin, Lucas and Eva. They enjoyed spending winters in Florida with friends and hosted fish frys with the fish Bob caught in Michigan and in Florida. Bob loved going fishing whenever and wherever possible, with his favorite spot being Fletchers Floodwaters in northern Michigan. He taught all his grandkids to fish and enjoyed spending time with them, taking them bowling and to movies, following them as they trick or treated and getting ice cream frequently. Bob found the Lord as a teenager and it changed the course of his life. He became a true servant of Christ, studying the Bible through the years and helping those around him often and in his quiet, humble way. He visited people in the hospital and nursing homes as well as elderly members of the church. He was easy going and always had a smile for anyone he met. His devotion as a father and husband along with his incredible work ethic set the example for the husbands his daughters chose to marry. He is cherished in our hearts and will be greatly missed. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 21st, from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 46401 Ann Arbor Road West (between Sheldon and Beck), Plymouth. Robert will lie in state on Wednesday, October 22nd, at 11:00 AM until the Funeral Service at 12:00 PM at Praise Community Church, 45000 N Territorial Rd, Plymouth. Interment will follow Wednesday, October 22nd at 1:45 PM at Salem-Walker Cemetery, 7150 Angle Rd, Northville. To share a memory, please use the share a memory tab on this webpage.

Robert John Roe

May 18, 1938 - October 15, 2025