Robert Melvin Vaulman Obituary

Robert “Hap” Vaulman, passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday August 13, 2023, in Arvada Colorado, after living a full and Happy life.

Hap was born on September 26, 1934, on the Southside of Chicago, Illinois to Barbara and Charles Vaulman as the third child of four – Big Brothers Richard and Raymond, then Robert and little sister Rita. He attended St. Adrians Catholic Grammar School with his siblings. His family enjoyed fishing the shores of Lake Michigan near the 63rd Street Pier, as well as vacations to Paw Paw Lake cabins in Michigan. He graduated from Tilden Tech High School, an all-boy’s school and participated on the swim team. He went to college classes at the Navy Pier Campus in Chicago of The University of Illinois and then graduated from the U of I Champaign Campus with a Degree in Electrical Engineering. He was stationed at Great Lakes Navel Training Center Co. 129 and employed by the United States government as an Engineer. Later he took a job in Rochester NY but then was drawn to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and employment with Martin Marietta, where he made his home in Denver, including a beautiful ski-up condominium in Vail. He changed careers and became a Real Estate agent in the Denver area for many years.

Hap loved to downhill ski, golf, tell stories, laugh loudly, drink red wine and share meals with his family and friends. He was a good dancer and loved Jazz music, with one of his favorite bands being The Dave Brubeck Quartet, especially the song “Take Five”. He frequently attended live music performances in the Denver metro area. He liked to travel especially to visit with his many nieces and nephews. Robert got his nickname from his namesake and Godfather Uncle Melvin who remarked that he was a very “Happy” boy, a name which stuck throughout his life.

He is survived by his loving sister, Rita (Vaulman) Burke and her O’Connell children: Michael, Linda, Dan, ilene, Patrick, and Jennifer; Rita (and Roland’s) Burke children: Rita Marie, Bob, Ron and Ruth; the children of his brother Richard: Kathleen, Paul, Vince, Pete and Patrick, and the many grand nieces and nephews; his first wife Maggie and Jessie.

He was preceded in death by his parents Barb and Chuck, brothers Dick (Ruth) and Ray, wife Marijoe and stepson Joe.

Thank you to Kipling Meadows Retirement Center where Hap really enjoyed living, eating, dancing, entertainment and Happy Hour Fridays while he lived there. Thanks to Abode Hospice and Honest Hearts Homecare for their loving care of Hap in his final days.

There will be a Catholic Mass and Service hosted at St. Joan of Arc to celebrate his life with family and friends. Hap’s final resting place will be with his parents and brother at St. Mary’s Cemetery in the Chicago area where extended family will have a celebration of his life together.

We will miss you Happy, our brother, our uncle, and friend.

I guess it’s time to “Take Five”