Robert Anthony Ellering

April 29, 1955 - June 2, 2024

Robert Anthony Ellering was born on April 29, 1955 in Sauk Centre City,  Minnesota and passed away on June 2, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. Robert was the fifth and last child born to Irene and Joseph Ellering. At the time of Robert's birth the family was living in Sauk Centre City,  Minnesota. Robert's grandparents were Paul and Margaret Rieland and they were farmers and landowners that lived in New Munich,  Minnesota. Robert often spoke proudly of them in regards to his early childhood.

In 1967 Robert's brother, Steve, moved the family to San Diego,  California after his parents divorce. He went to James Madison High School and when he finished school he went to work in the Nassco shipyards. He was very, very proud of his work on the docks and spoke of it often. For a short time he moved to Maryland with his mom and her new husband, Roy. In Maryland he worked as an horticulturist. When Roy retired from the Navy they moved back to San Diego. He worked with his brother Tom at the Miramar Naval Air Station golf course and roofed with  Big John.

Robert was married to Cecile "Cookie" Yuhas from 1978 to 1984.
Irene and Roy had purchased five acres out in the desert of Tucson and Robert visited often and eventually moved to the property to be near his mom. When he moved to Tucson he worked for Pima County as an AC repair and serviceman and worked construction for the Sundt corporation until he quit in 1994 in order to take care of his mother while she was battling cancer. He took care of her until her death in 1998. He would remain on the family property until his death in June of 2024.
Robert leaves behind four brothers and sisters: Steve Ellering (wife Anita), Tom Ellering, Bonnie Ellering-McCreary (partner Sean), Mary Bandy (husband George).

Robert and Big John Yuhas shared eight children and nineteen grandchildren. He leaves behind sons and daughters: Robert Joe Ellering (wife Kirstie), Melissa Seyfferth (husband Verne), Anthony Ellering (wife Jennifer), Lorraine Harmon (husband Alex), Lacey Yuhas, Amanda Yuhas (fiance Blair), Jesse Yuhas (wife Mallory) and Jake Yuhas (wife Savannah).
Robert had nineteen grandchildren: Brandon, Devan, Genevieve, Ally, Sierra, Haley, Conner, Donoven, Brody, Angelina, Madison, Anthony Jr., Levi, Allyney, Eli, Amerly, Serenity, Kaden and Declan.

Robert was an incredible and caring man. Throughout his life he wanted only the best for all his children and family. He was gentle but strong and was always a friend, a son, a father and a brother you could count on! He loved his '58 panhead Harley Davidson and had many adventures with Big John in Southern California. He loved "Gunsmoke" and pretty much any Cowboy movie ever made and loved Netflix and Prime Video.  Rarely did he miss "The Price is Right".

Rara as he was known to most of his children loved Arizona and spent all the rest of his years on the family property in Three Points. He loved working on the property and his "add on" with his faithful dog Scrappy. He was a gentle man with a wonderful sense of humor and loved rock and roll and country music used his own lyrics when he sang along.
His last several years he valiantly battled pulmonary fibrosis and in 2021 he survived an aortic aneurysm with the immediate help of Amanda and some great surgeons in Tucson.

He so wanted to die at home and was very weary of hospitals and doctors. He was a huge lover of animals and had the pleasure of helping to raise two chocolate labs, Spec and Rose, at the waning days of his life.
We will miss you, Robert, until the end of our days and until we reunite with you in Heaven.  It has been our greatest honor to have been surrounded by your love. Rest in Peace with your beloved mother, Irene, and all those you've loved and gone before you. ❤️