Robert E. "Rob" Oklejas

Robert E. "Rob" Oklejas, 47 years, of Monroe, Michigan went home to be with the Lord, suddenly after suffering cardiac arrest on Saturday, March 25, 2017 in his home. Born December 30, 1969 in Monroe, Rob was the son of Robert A. and Katherine M. (Graves) Oklejas. Rob was a 1988 graduate of Jefferson High School and received his Associates Degree from Monroe County Community College. Rob served his country honorably and proudly in the United States Army in Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Brigade, 1st Armored Calvary out of Fort Hood, TX. Rob served in operation Dessert Storm and Dessert Shield. For his heroism he received the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars as well as other meritorious honors and ribbons. On October 28, 1994 Rob married his beloved wife, the former Laura G. Schuster, at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Monroe. Rob started his career in the pump industry over 20 years ago, with Pump Engineering, Inc. (PEI). His work with PEI primarily involved building a Swiss sales and service facility to support the European and Middle East reverse osmosis industry. Pump Engineering, Inc. focused on developing and manufacturing pumps, parts and supplying various services to the Reverse Osmosis market. Rob went on to be the founder and managing director of Trinity Pumpenwerk focused on providing pumps, parts and service to the European horizontal directional drilling market. This company was sold to Prime Drilling GmbH (a major horizontal directional drilling rig manufacturer) in July, 2012. Returning to the USA after the sale of Trinity Pumpenwerk, Rob and his wife Laura created TRINITY Pumpworks to provide high quality, market driven pump products to select markets. Rob was a member and current President of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Monroe and a member of its Men's Club. Rob’s other memberships include: Monroe Club, Monroe Golf and Country Club, Black Forest German Hunt Club and The North Cape Yacht Club, where in 2016 he participated in the Miami to Havana, Cuba Sail Boat Race, the first one since 1959. Rob always prided himself of being physically fit and was active at Light The Fire Crossfit conditioning program in Monroe and participated in the Goruck Challenge in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Having lived in and traveled extensively through Europe and the Middle East, Rob had a cursory knowledge of several languages and was especially fluent in German. When Rob was a member of the Civil Air Patrol he assisted with the efforts of the air disaster of Northwest Flight 255. Rob is survived by his beloved wife of 22 years, Laura, three cherished children: Alexandra E. Oklejas of Ann Arbor, MI, Katja I. Oklejas of East Lansing, MI and Alec Oklejas, his loving parents: Robert A. and Katherine Oklejas of Monroe, two sisters: Laura L. (Tim) Kreger of Monroe and Maryann M. (Rev. Matt) Hayter of Union, MO and his mother in law: Elvira Schuster of Loerrach, Germany. Sadly he was preceded in death by his grandparents. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 1-8 PM in the Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, MI 48161, where a Pomen Service will be held at 7:00 PM. On Friday, March 31, 2017 he will lie in state at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Monroe from 10:00 AM until funeral services celebrating his life at 11:00 AM. Fr. Radi Obsenica and Fr. Miosav Ghingilovich, will officiate. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park, where the VFW Post #1138 will conduct military honors. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. George Serbian Orthodox Church and to Rob's family as they will be setting up a scholarship fund in his name in the near future.

Robert E. "Rob" Oklejas

December 30, 1969 - March 25, 2017