Robert Maxaner

Robert (Bob) Maxaner, 57, entered peacefully into eternal rest Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013 after a long battle with cancer.

He was born to John and Gertrude Maxaner, in Queens, N.Y. on July 24, 1956. He was the middle of nine siblings.

He married in 1979 to Andrea Dobert, of Beacon, N.Y. and had two children that he adored. He is survived by his two children, Anthony Maxaner of Wappinger Falls, N.Y. and Melinda (Minndee) Gilleo of Beacon, N.Y., and nine grandchildren: Ryan, Daniel, Hailie, Ayden, Olivia, and Eli of Beacon, N.Y., and Ethan, Shayne and Jake of Wappinger Falls, N.Y. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Bob divorced in 1983 and moved to Fountain Hills. He was always appreciative and proud of how well his previous wife and her current husband, Chuck Dobert, raised his two children.

When he moved to Arizona, he met his lifelong partner, Elke Blair, who passed away in 2012.

Bob was an entrepreneur; jack of all trades. He started out with a small handyman business for a few years, but it wasn’t enough for him. He started landscaping and gardening. He then helped out his best friend Scott maintaining swimming pools. He had a love for painting, so he fit that in as well. He was even a chef at one time. He knew how to cook a five-course meal.

He spent most of his life living and working in Saguaro Woods to make it a close friendly community. In his spare time he volunteered at local shelters and nursing homes.

Bob loved baseball. If a Mets game was on, everyone knew he was home watching it. He also loved music, and dancing, even his last few days here; you could catch him dancing around the hospital room.

His daughter Minndee states, “My dad always had a smile on his face and always looked on the brighter side of things. When life gave him lemons, he made lemonade.

“He changed so many lives by just being himself. He was always taking care of everyone before himself. He made friends so quickly, I loved that about him. I’m so grateful I was able to spend his last few days with him.

“He was not sad, or unhappy. Even through the pain, this was the happiest I have ever seen my dad. He will be missed by many friends and neighbors. I love you dad, so very, very much.”

Charitable donations can be made in Bob’s name to Hospice of the Valley, at www.hov.org/donation, or Circle the City, at www.circlethecity.org/donations.