Fred "Bob" Cohrs

Cohrs, Fred Robert 5/4/1920 - 1/31/2018 Vicksburg, MI Bob Cohrs of Vicksburg died peacefully on January 31, 2018, at Eaton County Health & Rehabilitation Services in Charlotte, MI, surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Maxine Cohrs. His parents were Ferdinand and Hilda Cohrs, both of Vicksburg. Bob's large family was his top priority. He loved nothing more than to walk a baby, while singing a gentle lullaby, or to get down on the floor to play with children. He and Maxine attended countless sporting events, band concerts, piano recitals, and other children's events. Bob was always home to play catch, give horn lessons, or have some young ones follow him around as he taught them home or auto repairs, or otherwise put them to work. "When you wake up, get up, and when you get up, do something," generated a lot of grumbling from his children, who then grew up to repeat it to theirs. At the Upjohn Company, where he was employed for many years, he was known as Fred. He was a mechanical engineer who helped build facilities to ensure that pharmaceuticals were manufactured in clean, uncontaminated environments. Bob gave generously of his time and effort to the community in which he lived for most of his life. He served for many years on the school board of Vicksburg Community Schools, where no one knew him as an easy "yes" vote. He was an active Rotarian, and a founding member of the annual Rotary Showboat, who was active in every performance, and built every stage set and model showboat, for more than 50 years. Bob and Maxine were members of the Methodist Church. Bob's search for truth often led him to vigorous participation in Sunday School. Bob graduated from Vicksburg High School in 1938, and from the University of Michigan in 1948, having taken time off from education during World War II. A lifelong musician, Bob played the trombone and the baritone horn, travelling widely with the Michigan marching band during the glory years of Michigan football. Before Pearl Harbor, Bob volunteered for Navy pilot training. Poor hearing ended his flying, and he later served in the Merchant Marine before returning to graduate from Michigan. Not long after, he and Maxine moved into the house in Vicksburg that Bob renovated extensively over the years. Bob is survived by six children and a large extended family: Fred and Ann Cohrs, of Springfield, VA; William and Susan Cohrs, of Coppell, TX; Dan Cohrs, of Vancouver, BC; Mary Ann (Cohrs) and Phillip Weaver, of Caledonia, MI; Nancy Cohrs, of Charlotte, MI; Tim and Linda Cohrs, of Kalamazoo, MI; twenty grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and more loved ones to whom he was "Grandpa" or "Daddo" through connections of the heart. A portion of Bob's remains will be buried near Maxine's grave at the Vicksburg cemetery, and the rest will be scattered at his beloved cottages "up north". A memorial celebration for family and friends is to be scheduled. The family requests that any memorial donations be made to the Vicksburg Rotary Club Foundation, P.O. Box 141, Vicksburg, MI 49097-0141. http://www.vicksburgrotary.org/contact-us/