MOHAWK Robert C. Bayer, age 87, of Bellinger Street passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, April 29, 2012 in his home, with the comfort of his loving family. Bob was born on June 12, 1924 in Herkimer, son of the late Frederick and Katherine Senft Bayer. He was raised and educated in Herkimer, graduating from Herkimer High School. On May 5, 1951, he married the former Carolyn Deming in Herkimer, raising four loving children. On July 19, 1976, he married Marion T. Zahniser in the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Herkimer. She passed away in 1996. For many years, Bob was a machinist working for Chicago Pneumatic in Utica, retiring in 1986. One of Bobs greatest pleasures was showing his skills as an excellent horseman participating in horse shows and county fairs, earning numerous ribbons. He was also an avid reader with westerns and local history books sitting on his stand. During his retirement he stayed active, volunteering for Herkimer County Catholic Charities and the Meals on Wheels program. He was honored by Catholic Charities, receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award. In his leisure time he enjoyed woodworking and was known for many of his wooden lawn silhouettes, including tractors, cows, horses and other animals. Anyone who has driven through Mohawk at one point has seen his most notable project, the wooden display cow for the German Flatts Cow Plop Bingo. Bob liked nature and wildlife. He enjoyed feeding rabbits, chipmunks and birds. He always looked forward to playing cards with the ladies, and occasionally went out to do some antiquing. He was a loving, caring father and grandfather, a friend to everyone, and will be dearly missed. Surviving him are two sons, Robert M. Bayer and his companion Barbara of Manchester Center, VT, and Randy A. Bayer and his wife Renee of Ilion; a daughter Cheryl Robinson and her husband Kim of Ilion; two stepsons, Bruce Zahniser and his wife Sally of Frankfort Center and Jeffrey Zahniser and his wife Barbara of Mohawk; three stepdaughters, Karen Christensen and her husband Steve of New Plymouth, ID, Laura Hailston and her companion Ron Schoonmaker of Ilion, and Leigh Olivero and her husband Felipe of Palm Harbor, FL; twenty-four grandchildren, Kara, Travis, Jaimie, Julianne, Steven, Jonathon, Shaun, Bradley, Patrick, Cindy, Sherry, Shelly, Dale, Brian, Jason, Jeffrey, Amy, Marc, Eric, Kristen, Rachel, Rob, Ethan and Andrew, and many great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides his wife Marion, he was preceded in death by his son, Richard D. Bayer and two sisters, Martha Rowland and Eleanor Crossett. A Funeral Service will be held for Mr. Bayer on Friday at 1:00 p.m. at Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer, with the Reverend Ann Zimmerman of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Herkimer officiating; internment to follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will be present in the funeral home on Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. to receive relatives and friends. Following internment, a reception will be held at the American Legion, W. Main St, Mohawk. Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory in donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation or American Cancer Society, envelopes will be available at the funeral home.