Br. Robert Charles Ewald, C.S.C., 81, died at 5:30 a.m. Sunday (July 28, 2013) at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, Ind.
He was born on June 20, 1932, in Adams, Minn., to Victor and Wilma (Carr) Ewald. He graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Charles City, Iowa, in June 1950.
Visitation will be from 3:30 to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday (July 30, 2013) at Moreau Seminary, with a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday (July 31, 2013) at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Kaniewski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
After working at a local bottling plant, Br. Ewald felt the call to religious life and entered the newly formed Andre House for Brothers on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in January 1951. He was received into the Congregation of Holy Cross on Aug. 15, 1951, and made his First Profession of Vows on Aug. 16, 1952. He professed his Final Vows on Aug. 16, 1956. Br. Ewald celebrated his 60th anniversary of religious profession in 2012.
Br. Ewald’s first assignment was to Holy Cross College in Washington, D.C., where he assisted the late Br. Ludger Schaub, C.S.C., in maintenance. While helping to band birds for a project there, Br. Ewald developed a lifelong interest in bird watching. He also honed to perfection a host of skills in the area of plumbing, carpentry, electrical and mechanical maintenance. From 1959-1962, Br. Ewald assisted with maintenance projects at Moreau Seminary and St. Joseph Hall before returning to Washington in the summer of 1962. When Holy Cross College closed in 1968, Br. Ewald moved to the Foreign Mission House, also in Washington. He served there until 1975, when he began assisting at Notre Dame High School for Boys in Niles, Ill. Br. Ewald was awarded a plaque from the students for his involvement in making the school and athletic fields beautiful and functional. After studying at Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, Ill., from 1981-83, Br. Ewald spent a year working in patient care at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind., before returning to Notre Dame High School in 1984 for three years. In 1987, Br. Ewald moved to Moreau Seminary to assist with maintenance projects and preparing for summers at Deep Creek Lake, Md. He moved to Holy Cross House in 2005. Br. Ewald was an accomplished wood worker and carpenter. His work at Holy Cross Camp in Deer Park, Md., was renowned among the community.
Br. Ewald’s parents, a brother, George, and a nephew, Andrew, are deceased. Surviving are a brother, Paul, Charles City, Iowa; two sisters, Mary Lang, Mason City, Iowa, and Cheryl Young, Des Moines, Iowa; and seven nieces and nephews, Susanne Young of Des Moines, Victor Young of Ankeny, Iowa, Melissa King of Ankeny, Stephanie Helston of New Jersey; John Lang of Altoona, Iowa, Stephen Lang of Colorado, and Debra Kranz of Mason City.
