Robert J. Haiduck

Published in Beacon News on June 8, 2010

Robert John Haiduck, age 80, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at his residence in Batavia. He was born August 16, 1929 in Aurora, IL, the son of John and Lucille (nee Ancel) Haiduck. He was united in marriage to Lois Hanny on February 14, 1953 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Aurora, IL.

Bob was a 1948 graduate of East Aurora High School. Upon graduation, he played class D and semi-pro baseball all through the south until the United States Army drafted him for service in the Korean War. He served in the signal corps in Korea and was attached to the South Korean Army in KMAG.

Bob worked for Eby-Brown Company for over 40 years until his retirement in 1997. He then worked as a starter for the Philips Park Golf Course in Aurora for nine years.

Bob was generous with his time and volunteered with many organizations including, Batavia RSVP and Marionjoy Rehabilitation Hospital and was also a member of the Batavia VFW and Tiger Athletic Association. He was devoted to Notre Dame Football through the good years as well as the bad, and made many trips with family and friends to the games.

Bob devised his own "Final Four" pool for friends. It was complicated and no one else really understood his system, excepting that Bob never won. His children and their friends remember the wonderful hockey rink he built in the back yard on Kensington Place during the winter.

Bob was also well known in the neighborhood for his back to school "milk shake" parties that always served as the children's official end of summer.

Bob was a dear and wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, and a generous and caring friend to all.

He is survived by his beloved wife Lois; his three children, Kristin (David) Vivoli of Elburn, Scott (Patti) Haiduck of Naperville, and James (Karen) Haiduck of Carlsbad, CA; four grandchildren, Amy (Paul) Leisher of Ridgefield, WA, Joseph Vivoli of Santa Clara, CA, and Nicole and Rachel Haiduck both of Carlsbad, CA; a brother, William Haiduck of Clinton, IA; a sister Jean (Dale) Booth of Oswego; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 10, 2010 from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Moss Family Funeral Home, 209 S. Batavia Ave. (Rt. 31) in Batavia.

Funeral services will begin with prayers at the funeral home at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, June 11, 2010 before proceeding to Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2300 West Main St. in Batavia, for Mass at 10:30 A.M. Interment will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Aurora. Memorials may be directed to Holy Cross Catholic Church.