I came home from the golf course, opened my emails and sunk down in my chair as I read about Bob. Bob was a team player and helped BTHS achieve an undefeated season. He also contributed to our team rankings by the Sporting News, number one high school football team 1962 and one of their "Legendary Teams"! Without Bob and players like Bob, the aforementioned achievements would not have been possible! RIP my friend and hopefully we will be able to recount the good old days. I will miss you!!😢
Sad to learn of Bob's death. Such a great friend and so fun to be around! We always celebrated our birthdays in August--I'm struggling a bit with the 80 thing. It will be fun to share with others in this same predicament. Hoping to see many of you in September. Blessings, Marilyn
Bob was a good friend for 65 years when I moved to Belleville before my sophomore year - one of the first people I met. He was a friend on and off the football field. Bob would pick me up at home in his family's yellow Ford and off we would go to Panorama or some other place where kids had gathered. One time Bob, Gary Kombrink, a couple of other guys and I went to a Cardinals game and drank 40 Buds by the 7th inning. Not bragging here - just one of those memories. I didn't say we were smart. I lost touch with Bob for a while, but we reconnected at the reunions. In recent years we stayed in touch by phone a few times a year, especially after his wife, Mary, passed away and he moved near Fredericktown, Missouri. Bob liked it there with his dog, Max, and Max's predecessor. He did become a bit of a loner there, coming to Belleville just once a month or so for a haircut from the barber he liked.
Bob told me I would know if he passed away, but I didn't know until Debbie Groh Husted from the 1965 class (mutual friend) texted me in July to ask me if I knew if he had passed away. Shock! No. She saw it on a local FB page. I called Bob's friends, the Yaekels, not from from where he lived. They confirmed he passed away June 8 after a brief illness. I'll miss Bob. Rest easy, my friend.
Hearing about another classmate's passing squeezes my heart...as I recall memories. Bob and I weren't close, but I remember seeing him a lot...on campus, perhaps at parties. I remember his smile, and if you will, his countenance. Always there...warm and inviting. A twinkle in his eyes. I'll include this well known quote by Maya Angelo, because it so expresses how I feel:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
James Zaring
I came home from the golf course, opened my emails and sunk down in my chair as I read about Bob. Bob was a team player and helped BTHS achieve an undefeated season. He also contributed to our team rankings by the Sporting News, number one high school football team 1962 and one of their "Legendary Teams"! Without Bob and players like Bob, the aforementioned achievements would not have been possible! RIP my friend and hopefully we will be able to recount the good old days. I will miss you!!😢
Marilyn McCann (Lange)
Sad to learn of Bob's death. Such a great friend and so fun to be around! We always celebrated our birthdays in August--I'm struggling a bit with the 80 thing. It will be fun to share with others in this same predicament. Hoping to see many of you in September. Blessings, Marilyn
Preston/Johnny Johnson
Yes, Marilyn. Bob was a friend and good guy to hang around with.We will miss him.
forward to seeing you at the 80th. I, too struggled with turning 80. See you at the party.
Charlie Manker
Bob was a good friend for 65 years when I moved to Belleville before my sophomore year - one of the first people I met. He was a friend on and off the football field. Bob would pick me up at home in his family's yellow Ford and off we would go to Panorama or some other place where kids had gathered. One time Bob, Gary Kombrink, a couple of other guys and I went to a Cardinals game and drank 40 Buds by the 7th inning. Not bragging here - just one of those memories. I didn't say we were smart. I lost touch with Bob for a while, but we reconnected at the reunions. In recent years we stayed in touch by phone a few times a year, especially after his wife, Mary, passed away and he moved near Fredericktown, Missouri. Bob liked it there with his dog, Max, and Max's predecessor. He did become a bit of a loner there, coming to Belleville just once a month or so for a haircut from the barber he liked.
Bob told me I would know if he passed away, but I didn't know until Debbie Groh Husted from the 1965 class (mutual friend) texted me in July to ask me if I knew if he had passed away. Shock! No. She saw it on a local FB page. I called Bob's friends, the Yaekels, not from from where he lived. They confirmed he passed away June 8 after a brief illness. I'll miss Bob. Rest easy, my friend.
Sally Goldenberg (Landau)
Hearing about another classmate's passing squeezes my heart...as I recall memories. Bob and I weren't close, but I remember seeing him a lot...on campus, perhaps at parties. I remember his smile, and if you will, his countenance. Always there...warm and inviting. A twinkle in his eyes. I'll include this well known quote by Maya Angelo, because it so expresses how I feel:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”