Fr. Robert Maher

Father Robert Glenn Maher died peacefully at his home in Las Vegas, NV on August 14, 2020 at the age of 89. He was born to Edna and John Maher on March 9, 1931 and grew up in Kenneth, MN. He graduated from St Anthony’s high school in Lismore, MN. He then attended St Mary’s seminary in Winona, MN for 4 years and then Catholic University in Washington, DC for 4 more years where he was awarded his Master’s degree in Theology.  He was ordained on May 30, 1957 at St Anthony’s in Lismore. After spending 2 years as parish priest in St Augustine’s in Austin, MN, he moved to Rochester, MN.

He served as chaplain for St Mary’s hospital in Rochester for 12 years, ministering and comforting the sick and the dying and their families and loved ones.

Father Bob (as he was known to friends) was a small plane pilot, and because of his love of flying, joined the US Air Force in 1969 and was commissioned an officer in the Chaplain Corps.

  He served as chaplain at several locations, including Germany, Alaska, S Dakota, Florida, California, Texas, California, Colorado, and Nevada. Early in his AF career, he served through the ending of the Vietnam War. Much later, he ministered to those servicemen who were experiencing the ravages of the Desert Gulf War.

He steadily rose through the officer’s ranks and eventually attained the rank of full Colonel. He served as USAF Inspector General of Chaplains for several years and travelled to virtually every US Airforce base on the planet. Colonel Maher was, of course, awarded multiple honors and citations during his term of military duty.

After giving 25 years to serve his country, he retired in 1994 at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

He then moved to Camarillo, California for about 5 years and finally to Las Vegas where he has lived for the past 20 plus years.

He was a gourmet chef and especially enjoyed grilling over charcoal. He also was an avid dachshund lover, and over his career was blessed with Stormy I, Stormy II, Katie I, II, and III, and most recently Willie.

In earlier years he enjoyed going to the greyhound race parks, hunting, and collecting model railroad engines.

In his later years he was often seen pampering a well-engineered car, reading, or enjoying marathon phone conversations with his innumerable friends to catch up on local events, personal news, or debate politics.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant older brother, and several aunts and uncles. He is survived by his sister Mary Maher, Cotati, California, and a multitude of friends whom he considered “family”.

   A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 am Friday at St. Anthony Catholic Church, in Lismore, officiated by Monsignor Richard Colletti and Priests of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. A visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the St. Anthony West Cemetery.

   Dingmann Funeral Home, in Adrian, is in charge of arrangements.

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