Robert John Monahan

Robert Monahan, devoted husband and father, died May 28, 2023 at the age of 88. He was born to the late Ethel and Raymond Monahan in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania. He is preceded in death by his wife, Donna; and siblings, James, Charles, Mary Ann, and Helene. He played football for Pitcairn High School and received a football scholarship to Xavier University where he obtained a BA. At University he played alongside his life-long friend William McCloskey. After college he was drafted into the Army and served two years at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs where he played football for the Mountaineers. While he was with the Mountaineers, he played alongside Green Bay Packer greats Willie Davis and Forrest Gregg. On the football field he played center protecting the quarterback and connecting plays. In life he found himself in a similar position, protecting those to whom he was closest. Throughout his life he was known for his strong moral compass and standing up for what was right even if it was uncomfortable or required extra brawn.  
It was in Colorado Springs where he met the love of his life, Donna, to whom he proposed six months after their first encounter at a local dance hall. He always said he was the luckiest man on earth because she agreed to marry him. They moved to Cincinnati, Ohio for two years then to Donna's hometown of Stillwater, Minnesota where he accepted a position at 3M and worked until his retirement at the age of 59. Stillwater is where they raised their family. They had three children, Deborah, Michael (wife Kristy and daughter Jessica), and Jennifer (husband Steve and daughters Lucia, Anna). Bob and Donna opened their hearts and home to his sister Mary Ann's children, Rebecca, Milan; Nancy (wife Deborah and children Paul, Karynne), Rose Ann (husband Mort and sons Matt, Lucas, Charles). In retirement Bob and Donna had many adventures. They enjoyed motorcycle rides that turned into weekend get-aways, and pulling a camper across the U.S. to discover new places and visit family and friends. He was an avid reader and connoisseur of westerns. In the last three years he was lovingly cared for by staff at Hometown in Woodbury. Funeral services will be held at Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center at 2800 Curve Crest Blvd. in Stillwater, MN on June 4 - visitation at 1:00 pm, service at 2:00 pm.

Memorials can be sent to Xavier University's "restricted giving" student aid fund:  https://www.xavier.edu/giving/gifts        Education was always important to Bob. He was known to say "football changed my life," and indeed it did. Thanks to his skills on the football field, Bob received a full scholarship and very proudly became the first in his family to graduate from college. Contributions to the student aid fund will go towards scholarships so that another student might have the same opportunity to be the first in their family to graduate from college.