Robert I Gawrych's Obituary
Robert I Gawrych (93) of 295 Roast Meat Hill Rd, Killingworth, Connecticut, passed away, June 9th, 2025, at his daughter's home in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Robert peacefully returned home to the tender embrace of his Heavenly Father and was reunited with his beloved wife Beverly.
Robert was survived by his three children, Carol Buhler (Chris) of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Robert Gawrych Jr. (Julie) of Sandy Utah, and Edward Gawrych (Linda), of Simpsonville, SC. Additionally, eleven grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren, along with many nieces & nephews. Twelve days before his passing, he was able to meet his newest great grandson, Liam Robert Pearson.
Robert was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on November 5th, 1931, the son of Joseph and Sofia Gawrych. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly, his parents and his siblings, Edward, Walter, Eleanor, & Joseph Jr. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Robert married Beverly Rose Shea in July1953, having recently celebrated 71 years of marriage. He worked most of his career for Winchester Repeating Arms.
Robert was a visionary, designer, and hard worker his entire life. Around the age of fourteen, he worked at a brickyard and used bricks to build a massive BBQ fireplace at the family home. It was so large and strongly built that when his parents’ land was sold, a backhoe was needed to dig a large hole to bury it because it was too difficult to move, and too strong to dispose of!
In his early 20’s he built a 16ft wooden fishing motorboat from scratch, steaming and forming the wood himself. At age twenty-four he bought 10 acres of land in Killingworth Ct. and started on his own “Garden of Eden”. At age thirty-six, Robert moved his family into the large, beautiful home he and Beverly designed & built with their own hands.
He was a gentlemen farmer who experimented with raising goats, cows, and chickens. He planted and cared for his beloved orchard of over sixty fruit trees of multiple varieties along with multiple vegetable gardens. Oh, how he delighted in a perfect tomato, or giant Zago squash!
Thoughts from his family: “Dear Dad, of all your many accomplishments in life, the most admirable was your complete devotion to Mom, especially in the last ten years of her struggle with dementia. We hope you are now getting a long-deserved rest; however, we know it won’t be long before you are back, hard at work! Until we are reunited, we will attempt to honor your example!"
A memorial will be held in Robert's honor at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 1548 N 900 W Pleasant Grove, Utah on August 2nd, 2025, at 3:00pm. (MST)
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