FIND A GRAVE MEMBER ID 46521699
Robert Clyde Cover
April 15, 1953 - November 06, 2018
Robert Clyde Cover was born on April 15, 1953 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was one of four children born from the union of Robert Eugene Cover and Catherine Leone (Allen) Cover. At the age of 12, Bob’s father passed, and this would soon shape his young life in many ways. The Cover Family chose the local Lyle Elliott neighborhood funeral home, and Bob was moved by the funeral director’s compassion. During high school, Bob would take a position under the tutelage of Mr. Elliott. He soon found that funeral service was his passion.
Bob graduated from Warren High School with the Class of 1971. With his new found call to serve others he would take employment with the Temrowski Funeral Home. Bob continued his studies completing his Associates Degree in 1973 at Macomb County Community College, and then entered the mortuary program at Wayne State University where he would graduate in 1974.
Bob spent seven years with the A.H. Peters Funeral Home. He learned all he could from many professionals during this time, but he always felt there was more.
In 1984, Bob and Sherry Cover started a new chapter in their lives by moving their young family to Dundee, Michigan and purchased what was then known as the Buhl Funeral Home. They quickly fell in love with the small town knowing it was where they wanted to raise their children. Bob was adamant in supporting his local community both with his finances and with his time. He was a member of the Dundee Parks and Recreation and Dundee Zoning Board of Appeals. He also served as a member and Chairperson of the Dundee Housing Commission.
Bob was Past President of the Dundee Lions Club and the Chancellor Commander of the Dundee Lodge 206 Knights of Pythias. In 1992, he would complete his Bachelor’s degree with the first class from Siena Heights University at Monroe County Community College. Bob also served his profession being the Past President of Michigan Funeral Directors Association District #2.
Bob loved to help others. He was often a confidant to his children and their friends always having an open door and willing to put a pot of coffee on at any hour. One of his greatest gifts was that of being an expert conversationalist, striking up dialog with people both young and old. He was kindhearted and generous often paying it forward.
Although, he was extremely intelligent and methodical in his thinking he was down to earth. He loved genealogy, classic cars owning a few throughout the years, and architecture.
Robert Clyde Cover, age 65, of Monroe formerly of Dundee passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 after a valiant battle with cancer. Preceding Bob in his passing were his parents; two brothers: Thomas and Gregory Cover; and a granddaughter: Lillian Grace Allard.
To cherish his memory, Bob leaves a loving wife of forty years, Cheryl Cover (nee Cromwell) of Monroe; two children: Paul (Lindsey) Cover of Skagit County, Washington and Carol (George) Allard of Allen Park; a sister: Karen Cover (Ted Cushard) of Clinton Township; a sister-in-law: Julie Cover of Bloomfield Township; three grandchildren: Lucas and Noah Allard and Miles Cover; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may gather from 1:00pm until 8:00pm on Friday, November 9, 2018 at Cover Funeral Home, 297 Tecumseh Street in Dundee. He will lie in state from 10:00am until 11:00am on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at St. John Lutheran Church, 460 Riley Street. Funeral services will follow at 11:00am also at the church with Reverend Jen Kiefer pastor of the church officiating. Procession will follow to Maple Grove Cemetery for burial.
Memorials are suggested to Gabby’s Ladder or the American Cancer Society. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort by visiting www.coverfuneralhome.com.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob's website description of his business, the Cover Funeral Home, which he just sold in October 2018.
Our Story
The Dundee funeral home was built in 1936 as the first funeral home built as a funeral home in Monroe County.
Cover Funeral Home, Inc. started in 1984; a continuation of funeral directors and furniture makers and salesmen since the 1860's. The first mention of a undertaker or furniture maker was in the post Civil War days when a Charles Parker was advertising in the Dundee newspaper.He later moved to Berlin Township and was employed as a teamster. Also in 1865 Augustus Glean was discharged from the US Army after serving 4 years during the Civil War. Instead of coming back to Monroe, he settled at Dundee and also opened a furniture store and undertaking establishment as the little town of Dundee was thriving.
Augustus and his wife Elnor conducted the business until his advancing age made this impossible. He was 63 when they got married, she only 42. Their only daughter Augusta was born in 1886 in Dundee. Augustus died in 1904 and Elnor in 1900. Both are buried at Oakwood Cemetery, now present day Oak Grove Cemetery.
In the late 1880's a local man, Nathaniel Newell, a cabinet/furniture maker by trade also established an undertaking business in town. After moving from buildings to successively bigger buildings, he eventually built a new brick two story building on Riley Street just off the main block and called it the Newell Building. Nathan learned hospitality from his mother. He was born in NY but came to Blissfield as a boy. His father left the Blissfield area when he was about 15 and his mother and her parents, the Gahretts moved to Dundee to run a boarding house. Nathan and his siblings helped with the duties and taking care of people. This helped him his entire life. This building is still standing in excellent condition on Riley Street in 1984. In 1904 Nathan and his wife Lucy also built a large brick two story home at 304 Riley Street.
With advancing age, Nathan's son in law and only daughter, Fred and Mildred Hemenway starting working with him, learning the business. There was room in Deerfield for an undertaker and furniture store so Fred opened a business there while still helping out in the Dundee store. Eventually Mr. Hemenway took on a partner, Earl valentine, and they operated both the Deerfield and Petersburg funeral homes together.
With Nathans passing in 1907, Fred stayed in Deerfield and a Fred Moser of Toledo/Temperance came to town and rented the largest storefront he could find which was in the old Pocklington Hotel, the only three story Dundee building at the triangle. Mr. Moser and his wife Clara stayed until 1921 when they moved back to Toledo.
He sold the business to Carl and Grace Kyper of NE Ohio and Western Indiana who was managing a small town funeral home. Mr. Kyper saw the need for a separate funeral home building like the large cities were using and decided to use an empty lot on Tecumseh Street across from his home as a trial funeral home. He wasn't sure if this would catch on.
He sold the funeral home to another local man, Royal Fisher, who grew up in Milan Township and the village of Dundee, across from the current funeral home. Royal graduated from Dundee High School in 1927 and was active in all of the men's organizations in town and also the Congregational Church of Dundee. Unfortunately, Royal died in 1961 at the young age of 53. He succumbed to heart and kidney failure at their cottage at St. Ignace, Michigan. He and his second wife Eleanor had 2 stepsons and one son together but none wanted to take over the business or go to mortuary school so the business was again sold.
Mr. Kyper had added the embalming room, Mr. Fisher added the casket room during World War II and Mr. Buhl added a 2000 square foot addition in 1970, doubling the size of the building.
In 1961. O. Keith Buhl and his wife Ann came from Lansing, Michigan where they had been raised and ran the funeral home and ambulance business in Dundee until their retirement in 1984. When they anticipated retiring, they decided to sell the funeral home to a young couple and not a large corporation. They felt that the people of Dundee would be much better served by someone who would live here and raise their family here. He found that in Bob and Sherry Cover.
Bob had worked for 4 funeral homes starting when he was 17, in Warren, Livonia and Detroit. Sherry was from the Lake Orion, Michigan area. The family lives next door to the funeral home as have the funeral directors and their families since 1943 when Royal Fisher bought the funeral home next to his house.
The Cover family philosophy has never changed: to treat every family that we come in contact just as if they were our own and to keep up with changing times.
Funeral director and years of service:
Charles Parker 1860's-1870's
Augustus Glean 1865-1880's
Nathaniel Newell 1880's-1907 - Fred Hemenway part of this time
Fred Moser 1907-1921
Carl Kyper 1921-1943
Royal Fisher 1943-1961
O. Keith Buhl 1961-1984
Robert C. Cover 1984-2018
Mr. Kyper trained many local young men to be undertakers from 1921-1943. Royal Fisher, Earl Valentine, Taylor Farnum, and Clark Ford all served their apprenticeships under Mr. Kyper's supervision. These four ended up owning their own funeral businesses. Fred Moser was the last actual cabinet furniture maker. Carl Kyper and Royal Fisher could trim caskets with material and install handles but were not true furniture makers. This art was lost and large manufacturers were making ready made units, just as they do now. For many years, Nathan Newell's younger brother and his wife and son lived in half the duplex house next door to the present day funeral home.
Robert Clyde Cover
April 15, 1953 - November 06, 2018
Robert Clyde Cover was born on April 15, 1953 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was one of four children born from the union of Robert Eugene Cover and Catherine Leone (Allen) Cover. At the age of 12, Bob’s father passed, and this would soon shape his young life in many ways. The Cover Family chose the local Lyle Elliott neighborhood funeral home, and Bob was moved by the funeral director’s compassion. During high school, Bob would take a position under the tutelage of Mr. Elliott. He soon found that funeral service was his passion.
Bob graduated from Warren High School with the Class of 1971. With his new found call to serve others he would take employment with the Temrowski Funeral Home. Bob continued his studies completing his Associates Degree in 1973 at Macomb County Community College, and then entered the mortuary program at Wayne State University where he would graduate in 1974.
Bob spent seven years with the A.H. Peters Funeral Home. He learned all he could from many professionals during this time, but he always felt there was more.
In 1984, Bob and Sherry Cover started a new chapter in their lives by moving their young family to Dundee, Michigan and purchased what was then known as the Buhl Funeral Home. They quickly fell in love with the small town knowing it was where they wanted to raise their children. Bob was adamant in supporting his local community both with his finances and with his time. He was a member of the Dundee Parks and Recreation and Dundee Zoning Board of Appeals. He also served as a member and Chairperson of the Dundee Housing Commission.
Bob was Past President of the Dundee Lions Club and the Chancellor Commander of the Dundee Lodge 206 Knights of Pythias. In 1992, he would complete his Bachelor’s degree with the first class from Siena Heights University at Monroe County Community College. Bob also served his profession being the Past President of Michigan Funeral Directors Association District #2.
Bob loved to help others. He was often a confidant to his children and their friends always having an open door and willing to put a pot of coffee on at any hour. One of his greatest gifts was that of being an expert conversationalist, striking up dialog with people both young and old. He was kindhearted and generous often paying it forward.
Although, he was extremely intelligent and methodical in his thinking he was down to earth. He loved genealogy, classic cars owning a few throughout the years, and architecture.
Robert Clyde Cover, age 65, of Monroe formerly of Dundee passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 after a valiant battle with cancer. Preceding Bob in his passing were his parents; two brothers: Thomas and Gregory Cover; and a granddaughter: Lillian Grace Allard.
To cherish his memory, Bob leaves a loving wife of forty years, Cheryl Cover (nee Cromwell) of Monroe; two children: Paul (Lindsey) Cover of Skagit County, Washington and Carol (George) Allard of Allen Park; a sister: Karen Cover (Ted Cushard) of Clinton Township; a sister-in-law: Julie Cover of Bloomfield Township; three grandchildren: Lucas and Noah Allard and Miles Cover; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may gather from 1:00pm until 8:00pm on Friday, November 9, 2018 at Cover Funeral Home, 297 Tecumseh Street in Dundee. He will lie in state from 10:00am until 11:00am on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at St. John Lutheran Church, 460 Riley Street. Funeral services will follow at 11:00am also at the church with Reverend Jen Kiefer pastor of the church officiating. Procession will follow to Maple Grove Cemetery for burial.
Memorials are suggested to Gabby’s Ladder or the American Cancer Society. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort by visiting www.coverfuneralhome.com.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob's website description of his business, the Cover Funeral Home, which he just sold in October 2018.
Our Story
The Dundee funeral home was built in 1936 as the first funeral home built as a funeral home in Monroe County.
Cover Funeral Home, Inc. started in 1984; a continuation of funeral directors and furniture makers and salesmen since the 1860's. The first mention of a undertaker or furniture maker was in the post Civil War days when a Charles Parker was advertising in the Dundee newspaper.He later moved to Berlin Township and was employed as a teamster. Also in 1865 Augustus Glean was discharged from the US Army after serving 4 years during the Civil War. Instead of coming back to Monroe, he settled at Dundee and also opened a furniture store and undertaking establishment as the little town of Dundee was thriving.
Augustus and his wife Elnor conducted the business until his advancing age made this impossible. He was 63 when they got married, she only 42. Their only daughter Augusta was born in 1886 in Dundee. Augustus died in 1904 and Elnor in 1900. Both are buried at Oakwood Cemetery, now present day Oak Grove Cemetery.
In the late 1880's a local man, Nathaniel Newell, a cabinet/furniture maker by trade also established an undertaking business in town. After moving from buildings to successively bigger buildings, he eventually built a new brick two story building on Riley Street just off the main block and called it the Newell Building. Nathan learned hospitality from his mother. He was born in NY but came to Blissfield as a boy. His father left the Blissfield area when he was about 15 and his mother and her parents, the Gahretts moved to Dundee to run a boarding house. Nathan and his siblings helped with the duties and taking care of people. This helped him his entire life. This building is still standing in excellent condition on Riley Street in 1984. In 1904 Nathan and his wife Lucy also built a large brick two story home at 304 Riley Street.
With advancing age, Nathan's son in law and only daughter, Fred and Mildred Hemenway starting working with him, learning the business. There was room in Deerfield for an undertaker and furniture store so Fred opened a business there while still helping out in the Dundee store. Eventually Mr. Hemenway took on a partner, Earl valentine, and they operated both the Deerfield and Petersburg funeral homes together.
With Nathans passing in 1907, Fred stayed in Deerfield and a Fred Moser of Toledo/Temperance came to town and rented the largest storefront he could find which was in the old Pocklington Hotel, the only three story Dundee building at the triangle. Mr. Moser and his wife Clara stayed until 1921 when they moved back to Toledo.
He sold the business to Carl and Grace Kyper of NE Ohio and Western Indiana who was managing a small town funeral home. Mr. Kyper saw the need for a separate funeral home building like the large cities were using and decided to use an empty lot on Tecumseh Street across from his home as a trial funeral home. He wasn't sure if this would catch on.
He sold the funeral home to another local man, Royal Fisher, who grew up in Milan Township and the village of Dundee, across from the current funeral home. Royal graduated from Dundee High School in 1927 and was active in all of the men's organizations in town and also the Congregational Church of Dundee. Unfortunately, Royal died in 1961 at the young age of 53. He succumbed to heart and kidney failure at their cottage at St. Ignace, Michigan. He and his second wife Eleanor had 2 stepsons and one son together but none wanted to take over the business or go to mortuary school so the business was again sold.
Mr. Kyper had added the embalming room, Mr. Fisher added the casket room during World War II and Mr. Buhl added a 2000 square foot addition in 1970, doubling the size of the building.
In 1961. O. Keith Buhl and his wife Ann came from Lansing, Michigan where they had been raised and ran the funeral home and ambulance business in Dundee until their retirement in 1984. When they anticipated retiring, they decided to sell the funeral home to a young couple and not a large corporation. They felt that the people of Dundee would be much better served by someone who would live here and raise their family here. He found that in Bob and Sherry Cover.
Bob had worked for 4 funeral homes starting when he was 17, in Warren, Livonia and Detroit. Sherry was from the Lake Orion, Michigan area. The family lives next door to the funeral home as have the funeral directors and their families since 1943 when Royal Fisher bought the funeral home next to his house.
The Cover family philosophy has never changed: to treat every family that we come in contact just as if they were our own and to keep up with changing times.
Funeral director and years of service:
Charles Parker 1860's-1870's
Augustus Glean 1865-1880's
Nathaniel Newell 1880's-1907 - Fred Hemenway part of this time
Fred Moser 1907-1921
Carl Kyper 1921-1943
Royal Fisher 1943-1961
O. Keith Buhl 1961-1984
Robert C. Cover 1984-2018
Mr. Kyper trained many local young men to be undertakers from 1921-1943. Royal Fisher, Earl Valentine, Taylor Farnum, and Clark Ford all served their apprenticeships under Mr. Kyper's supervision. These four ended up owning their own funeral businesses. Fred Moser was the last actual cabinet furniture maker. Carl Kyper and Royal Fisher could trim caskets with material and install handles but were not true furniture makers. This art was lost and large manufacturers were making ready made units, just as they do now. For many years, Nathan Newell's younger brother and his wife and son lived in half the duplex house next door to the present day funeral home.
FIND A GRAVE MEMBER ID 46521699
Robert Clyde Cover
April 15, 1953 - November 06, 2018
Robert Clyde Cover was born on April 15, 1953 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was one of four children born from the union of Robert Eugene Cover and Catherine Leone (Allen) Cover. At the age of 12, Bob’s father passed, and this would soon shape his young life in many ways. The Cover Family chose the local Lyle Elliott neighborhood funeral home, and Bob was moved by the funeral director’s compassion. During high school, Bob would take a position under the tutelage of Mr. Elliott. He soon found that funeral service was his passion.
Bob graduated from Warren High School with the Class of 1971. With his new found call to serve others he would take employment with the Temrowski Funeral Home. Bob continued his studies completing his Associates Degree in 1973 at Macomb County Community College, and then entered the mortuary program at Wayne State University where he would graduate in 1974.
Bob spent seven years with the A.H. Peters Funeral Home. He learned all he could from many professionals during this time, but he always felt there was more.
In 1984, Bob and Sherry Cover started a new chapter in their lives by moving their young family to Dundee, Michigan and purchased what was then known as the Buhl Funeral Home. They quickly fell in love with the small town knowing it was where they wanted to raise their children. Bob was adamant in supporting his local community both with his finances and with his time. He was a member of the Dundee Parks and Recreation and Dundee Zoning Board of Appeals. He also served as a member and Chairperson of the Dundee Housing Commission.
Bob was Past President of the Dundee Lions Club and the Chancellor Commander of the Dundee Lodge 206 Knights of Pythias. In 1992, he would complete his Bachelor’s degree with the first class from Siena Heights University at Monroe County Community College. Bob also served his profession being the Past President of Michigan Funeral Directors Association District #2.
Bob loved to help others. He was often a confidant to his children and their friends always having an open door and willing to put a pot of coffee on at any hour. One of his greatest gifts was that of being an expert conversationalist, striking up dialog with people both young and old. He was kindhearted and generous often paying it forward.
Although, he was extremely intelligent and methodical in his thinking he was down to earth. He loved genealogy, classic cars owning a few throughout the years, and architecture.
Robert Clyde Cover, age 65, of Monroe formerly of Dundee passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 after a valiant battle with cancer. Preceding Bob in his passing were his parents; two brothers: Thomas and Gregory Cover; and a granddaughter: Lillian Grace Allard.
To cherish his memory, Bob leaves a loving wife of forty years, Cheryl Cover (nee Cromwell) of Monroe; two children: Paul (Lindsey) Cover of Skagit County, Washington and Carol (George) Allard of Allen Park; a sister: Karen Cover (Ted Cushard) of Clinton Township; a sister-in-law: Julie Cover of Bloomfield Township; three grandchildren: Lucas and Noah Allard and Miles Cover; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may gather from 1:00pm until 8:00pm on Friday, November 9, 2018 at Cover Funeral Home, 297 Tecumseh Street in Dundee. He will lie in state from 10:00am until 11:00am on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at St. John Lutheran Church, 460 Riley Street. Funeral services will follow at 11:00am also at the church with Reverend Jen Kiefer pastor of the church officiating. Procession will follow to Maple Grove Cemetery for burial.
Memorials are suggested to Gabby’s Ladder or the American Cancer Society. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort by visiting www.coverfuneralhome.com.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob's website description of his business, the Cover Funeral Home, which he just sold in October 2018.
Our Story
The Dundee funeral home was built in 1936 as the first funeral home built as a funeral home in Monroe County.
Cover Funeral Home, Inc. started in 1984; a continuation of funeral directors and furniture makers and salesmen since the 1860's. The first mention of a undertaker or furniture maker was in the post Civil War days when a Charles Parker was advertising in the Dundee newspaper.He later moved to Berlin Township and was employed as a teamster. Also in 1865 Augustus Glean was discharged from the US Army after serving 4 years during the Civil War. Instead of coming back to Monroe, he settled at Dundee and also opened a furniture store and undertaking establishment as the little town of Dundee was thriving.
Augustus and his wife Elnor conducted the business until his advancing age made this impossible. He was 63 when they got married, she only 42. Their only daughter Augusta was born in 1886 in Dundee. Augustus died in 1904 and Elnor in 1900. Both are buried at Oakwood Cemetery, now present day Oak Grove Cemetery.
In the late 1880's a local man, Nathaniel Newell, a cabinet/furniture maker by trade also established an undertaking business in town. After moving from buildings to successively bigger buildings, he eventually built a new brick two story building on Riley Street just off the main block and called it the Newell Building. Nathan learned hospitality from his mother. He was born in NY but came to Blissfield as a boy. His father left the Blissfield area when he was about 15 and his mother and her parents, the Gahretts moved to Dundee to run a boarding house. Nathan and his siblings helped with the duties and taking care of people. This helped him his entire life. This building is still standing in excellent condition on Riley Street in 1984. In 1904 Nathan and his wife Lucy also built a large brick two story home at 304 Riley Street.
With advancing age, Nathan's son in law and only daughter, Fred and Mildred Hemenway starting working with him, learning the business. There was room in Deerfield for an undertaker and furniture store so Fred opened a business there while still helping out in the Dundee store. Eventually Mr. Hemenway took on a partner, Earl valentine, and they operated both the Deerfield and Petersburg funeral homes together.
With Nathans passing in 1907, Fred stayed in Deerfield and a Fred Moser of Toledo/Temperance came to town and rented the largest storefront he could find which was in the old Pocklington Hotel, the only three story Dundee building at the triangle. Mr. Moser and his wife Clara stayed until 1921 when they moved back to Toledo.
He sold the business to Carl and Grace Kyper of NE Ohio and Western Indiana who was managing a small town funeral home. Mr. Kyper saw the need for a separate funeral home building like the large cities were using and decided to use an empty lot on Tecumseh Street across from his home as a trial funeral home. He wasn't sure if this would catch on.
He sold the funeral home to another local man, Royal Fisher, who grew up in Milan Township and the village of Dundee, across from the current funeral home. Royal graduated from Dundee High School in 1927 and was active in all of the men's organizations in town and also the Congregational Church of Dundee. Unfortunately, Royal died in 1961 at the young age of 53. He succumbed to heart and kidney failure at their cottage at St. Ignace, Michigan. He and his second wife Eleanor had 2 stepsons and one son together but none wanted to take over the business or go to mortuary school so the business was again sold.
Mr. Kyper had added the embalming room, Mr. Fisher added the casket room during World War II and Mr. Buhl added a 2000 square foot addition in 1970, doubling the size of the building.
In 1961. O. Keith Buhl and his wife Ann came from Lansing, Michigan where they had been raised and ran the funeral home and ambulance business in Dundee until their retirement in 1984. When they anticipated retiring, they decided to sell the funeral home to a young couple and not a large corporation. They felt that the people of Dundee would be much better served by someone who would live here and raise their family here. He found that in Bob and Sherry Cover.
Bob had worked for 4 funeral homes starting when he was 17, in Warren, Livonia and Detroit. Sherry was from the Lake Orion, Michigan area. The family lives next door to the funeral home as have the funeral directors and their families since 1943 when Royal Fisher bought the funeral home next to his house.
The Cover family philosophy has never changed: to treat every family that we come in contact just as if they were our own and to keep up with changing times.
Funeral director and years of service:
Charles Parker 1860's-1870's
Augustus Glean 1865-1880's
Nathaniel Newell 1880's-1907 - Fred Hemenway part of this time
Fred Moser 1907-1921
Carl Kyper 1921-1943
Royal Fisher 1943-1961
O. Keith Buhl 1961-1984
Robert C. Cover 1984-2018
Mr. Kyper trained many local young men to be undertakers from 1921-1943. Royal Fisher, Earl Valentine, Taylor Farnum, and Clark Ford all served their apprenticeships under Mr. Kyper's supervision. These four ended up owning their own funeral businesses. Fred Moser was the last actual cabinet furniture maker. Carl Kyper and Royal Fisher could trim caskets with material and install handles but were not true furniture makers. This art was lost and large manufacturers were making ready made units, just as they do now. For many years, Nathan Newell's younger brother and his wife and son lived in half the duplex house next door to the present day funeral home.
Robert Clyde Cover
April 15, 1953 - November 06, 2018
Robert Clyde Cover was born on April 15, 1953 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was one of four children born from the union of Robert Eugene Cover and Catherine Leone (Allen) Cover. At the age of 12, Bob’s father passed, and this would soon shape his young life in many ways. The Cover Family chose the local Lyle Elliott neighborhood funeral home, and Bob was moved by the funeral director’s compassion. During high school, Bob would take a position under the tutelage of Mr. Elliott. He soon found that funeral service was his passion.
Bob graduated from Warren High School with the Class of 1971. With his new found call to serve others he would take employment with the Temrowski Funeral Home. Bob continued his studies completing his Associates Degree in 1973 at Macomb County Community College, and then entered the mortuary program at Wayne State University where he would graduate in 1974.
Bob spent seven years with the A.H. Peters Funeral Home. He learned all he could from many professionals during this time, but he always felt there was more.
In 1984, Bob and Sherry Cover started a new chapter in their lives by moving their young family to Dundee, Michigan and purchased what was then known as the Buhl Funeral Home. They quickly fell in love with the small town knowing it was where they wanted to raise their children. Bob was adamant in supporting his local community both with his finances and with his time. He was a member of the Dundee Parks and Recreation and Dundee Zoning Board of Appeals. He also served as a member and Chairperson of the Dundee Housing Commission.
Bob was Past President of the Dundee Lions Club and the Chancellor Commander of the Dundee Lodge 206 Knights of Pythias. In 1992, he would complete his Bachelor’s degree with the first class from Siena Heights University at Monroe County Community College. Bob also served his profession being the Past President of Michigan Funeral Directors Association District #2.
Bob loved to help others. He was often a confidant to his children and their friends always having an open door and willing to put a pot of coffee on at any hour. One of his greatest gifts was that of being an expert conversationalist, striking up dialog with people both young and old. He was kindhearted and generous often paying it forward.
Although, he was extremely intelligent and methodical in his thinking he was down to earth. He loved genealogy, classic cars owning a few throughout the years, and architecture.
Robert Clyde Cover, age 65, of Monroe formerly of Dundee passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 after a valiant battle with cancer. Preceding Bob in his passing were his parents; two brothers: Thomas and Gregory Cover; and a granddaughter: Lillian Grace Allard.
To cherish his memory, Bob leaves a loving wife of forty years, Cheryl Cover (nee Cromwell) of Monroe; two children: Paul (Lindsey) Cover of Skagit County, Washington and Carol (George) Allard of Allen Park; a sister: Karen Cover (Ted Cushard) of Clinton Township; a sister-in-law: Julie Cover of Bloomfield Township; three grandchildren: Lucas and Noah Allard and Miles Cover; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may gather from 1:00pm until 8:00pm on Friday, November 9, 2018 at Cover Funeral Home, 297 Tecumseh Street in Dundee. He will lie in state from 10:00am until 11:00am on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at St. John Lutheran Church, 460 Riley Street. Funeral services will follow at 11:00am also at the church with Reverend Jen Kiefer pastor of the church officiating. Procession will follow to Maple Grove Cemetery for burial.
Memorials are suggested to Gabby’s Ladder or the American Cancer Society. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort by visiting www.coverfuneralhome.com.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob's website description of his business, the Cover Funeral Home, which he just sold in October 2018.
Our Story
The Dundee funeral home was built in 1936 as the first funeral home built as a funeral home in Monroe County.
Cover Funeral Home, Inc. started in 1984; a continuation of funeral directors and furniture makers and salesmen since the 1860's. The first mention of a undertaker or furniture maker was in the post Civil War days when a Charles Parker was advertising in the Dundee newspaper.He later moved to Berlin Township and was employed as a teamster. Also in 1865 Augustus Glean was discharged from the US Army after serving 4 years during the Civil War. Instead of coming back to Monroe, he settled at Dundee and also opened a furniture store and undertaking establishment as the little town of Dundee was thriving.
Augustus and his wife Elnor conducted the business until his advancing age made this impossible. He was 63 when they got married, she only 42. Their only daughter Augusta was born in 1886 in Dundee. Augustus died in 1904 and Elnor in 1900. Both are buried at Oakwood Cemetery, now present day Oak Grove Cemetery.
In the late 1880's a local man, Nathaniel Newell, a cabinet/furniture maker by trade also established an undertaking business in town. After moving from buildings to successively bigger buildings, he eventually built a new brick two story building on Riley Street just off the main block and called it the Newell Building. Nathan learned hospitality from his mother. He was born in NY but came to Blissfield as a boy. His father left the Blissfield area when he was about 15 and his mother and her parents, the Gahretts moved to Dundee to run a boarding house. Nathan and his siblings helped with the duties and taking care of people. This helped him his entire life. This building is still standing in excellent condition on Riley Street in 1984. In 1904 Nathan and his wife Lucy also built a large brick two story home at 304 Riley Street.
With advancing age, Nathan's son in law and only daughter, Fred and Mildred Hemenway starting working with him, learning the business. There was room in Deerfield for an undertaker and furniture store so Fred opened a business there while still helping out in the Dundee store. Eventually Mr. Hemenway took on a partner, Earl valentine, and they operated both the Deerfield and Petersburg funeral homes together.
With Nathans passing in 1907, Fred stayed in Deerfield and a Fred Moser of Toledo/Temperance came to town and rented the largest storefront he could find which was in the old Pocklington Hotel, the only three story Dundee building at the triangle. Mr. Moser and his wife Clara stayed until 1921 when they moved back to Toledo.
He sold the business to Carl and Grace Kyper of NE Ohio and Western Indiana who was managing a small town funeral home. Mr. Kyper saw the need for a separate funeral home building like the large cities were using and decided to use an empty lot on Tecumseh Street across from his home as a trial funeral home. He wasn't sure if this would catch on.
He sold the funeral home to another local man, Royal Fisher, who grew up in Milan Township and the village of Dundee, across from the current funeral home. Royal graduated from Dundee High School in 1927 and was active in all of the men's organizations in town and also the Congregational Church of Dundee. Unfortunately, Royal died in 1961 at the young age of 53. He succumbed to heart and kidney failure at their cottage at St. Ignace, Michigan. He and his second wife Eleanor had 2 stepsons and one son together but none wanted to take over the business or go to mortuary school so the business was again sold.
Mr. Kyper had added the embalming room, Mr. Fisher added the casket room during World War II and Mr. Buhl added a 2000 square foot addition in 1970, doubling the size of the building.
In 1961. O. Keith Buhl and his wife Ann came from Lansing, Michigan where they had been raised and ran the funeral home and ambulance business in Dundee until their retirement in 1984. When they anticipated retiring, they decided to sell the funeral home to a young couple and not a large corporation. They felt that the people of Dundee would be much better served by someone who would live here and raise their family here. He found that in Bob and Sherry Cover.
Bob had worked for 4 funeral homes starting when he was 17, in Warren, Livonia and Detroit. Sherry was from the Lake Orion, Michigan area. The family lives next door to the funeral home as have the funeral directors and their families since 1943 when Royal Fisher bought the funeral home next to his house.
The Cover family philosophy has never changed: to treat every family that we come in contact just as if they were our own and to keep up with changing times.
Funeral director and years of service:
Charles Parker 1860's-1870's
Augustus Glean 1865-1880's
Nathaniel Newell 1880's-1907 - Fred Hemenway part of this time
Fred Moser 1907-1921
Carl Kyper 1921-1943
Royal Fisher 1943-1961
O. Keith Buhl 1961-1984
Robert C. Cover 1984-2018
Mr. Kyper trained many local young men to be undertakers from 1921-1943. Royal Fisher, Earl Valentine, Taylor Farnum, and Clark Ford all served their apprenticeships under Mr. Kyper's supervision. These four ended up owning their own funeral businesses. Fred Moser was the last actual cabinet furniture maker. Carl Kyper and Royal Fisher could trim caskets with material and install handles but were not true furniture makers. This art was lost and large manufacturers were making ready made units, just as they do now. For many years, Nathan Newell's younger brother and his wife and son lived in half the duplex house next door to the present day funeral home.
