Robert "Bob" Larimer

Robert Paul Larimer
1935 -2024

Robert “Bob” Paul Larimer was called home to his Heavenly Father on September 19, 2024, at the age of 88 years and eleven months. He passed away at Altoona Nursing and Rehabilitation Home in Altoona, Iowa assisted by Care Initiatives Hospice after years facing the challenges of Alzheimer’s Disease. There will be a visitation at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 105 4th Street SW in Altoona on Thursday, September 26, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Saints John & Paul Catholic Church at 1401 First Ave SE, Altoona on Friday, September 27, 2024 at 10:30a.m. Father Mark McGeary will officiate. Interment will be at Altoona Cemetery.

Bob was born October 20, 1935, in Valentine, Nebraska, the only child of Paul Everett and Marie Alvina Larimer. From third grade through high school Bob lived with his grandmother and his aunts and uncles in Burke, South Dakota while his parents worked as domestic servants in the Chicago area and later ranched near Valentine. He graduated from Burke High School in the class of 1954 and was a graduate of the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree in 1967. He was a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota.

He married Delores Ruybalid in Montrose, Colorado on December 31, 1957. They had one child, Robert Keith, and later divorced. On September 4, 1965, he and Virginia Pederson married at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Gregory, South Dakota. Three children were born to this marriage: Caprice, Gina and Eric.

Following high school and a year at USD, Bob joined his parents in Colorado and worked in the uranium industry, first as a land surveyor and then in mine safety for Union Carbide. After returning to USD to finish his degree, he taught boys junior high physical education in Oelwein, Iowa for 9 years. While teaching Bob had a reputation as a strict disciplinarian and his students soon began to refer to him as “Colonel Bob”. Often when they met in later life, they still called him Colonel Bob, but with fondness, great respect and appreciation. After teaching, Bob joined his wife as an agent for American Family Insurance, retiring at the end of 2000. In 2019 the couple moved to Altoona, Iowa.

Bob had been active in athletics throughout his life. In high school he was a basketball standout and held the school records in track and field for many years. He enjoyed playing baseball, slow pitch, and was a formidable bowler. He enjoyed trap shooting, table tennis and pool. He had maintained a daily physical training regimen until just two years before his passing. Motorcycling was a long-time interest for Bob and Oelwein folks will recall him riding his red Honda Silver Wing around town. The children treasure the memory of trips on the motorcycle to Backbone Park as youngsters. Bob and his family enjoyed playing 10-point pitch and cribbage. He was a private pilot and owned a vintage Ercoupe. Bob had sung in church choirs since he was in third grade up until a few years ago.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oelwein where he had served on the parish council and Saints John and Paul Catholic Church in Altoona. Bob was a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus where he assisted with bingo and the Tootsie Roll Drive. He was a member of the Oelwein Rotary Club serving as president and was treasurer for many years. Along with his love for airplanes, he was also a member of the Oelwein Airport Commission.

Bob will be remembered as a strong, quick humored man. He was a loving husband and father who always had time for his children. He will be missed by his family and friends. He had some sayings that the family refers to a Bobisms. “Ugga boo, ugga boo, ugga boo boo, ugga.” Translated he said it meant in Native American “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Regarding the end of a card game: “Bidders ‘I’ll go out; if they don’t go set.” If someone was getting the better of him in any game he’d tell them, “You better quit that, or I’ll throw you out in the snowbank headfirst.” Then, “This is about as much fun as watching paint dry” or “this is about as funny as a rubber crutch”, and finally, “I haven’t had this much fun since the pigs ate my little sister.”

He was proceeded in death by his parents Paul and Alvina, his son Keith Saunders, and his in-laws Elvin and Louise Pederson. Surviving is his wife of 59 years, Virginia, and their children and grandchildren: Caprice and Doug Musty of Anchorage, Alaska and their children Andromeda, Jack and Patience; Gina Bessman and children Noah, Jane and Caleb of Mesa, Arizona and Eric and Mary Ann Larimer and son Gavin of Des Moines, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.

Join the family for a luncheon at Saints John & Paul following interment at Altoona Cemetery.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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