A happy day spent with Anthony
One of the things I loved doing was taking the grandkids fishing from time to time. This was a special day for Anthony and me. Joyce loved the note that he left for her saying “Gone fishing Grampa and me.” As you can…
A Sad Time In Our Lives
In September of 1958 we were happy to learn that we were expecting our first child. Several times as the months went on we had a scare that labor was beginning. Each time the Dr. would warn that we might lose our child…
An Enjoyable Day This Week
Since golf has always been one of my favorite pass times I really enjoyed golfing with great Grandson Kyler Grummitt. He is learning and I’m not as good as I used to be but it was very enjoyable. Also Kyler has become a…
Are you a regular at any of your local restaurants or cafes? What is that relationship like?
Since moving to Clarksville I have enjoyed going to coffee each morning at Pete and Shorty’s with a group of men. Depending on the day there could be anywhere from 3 to 7 guys. Anyone coming in was always welcome. The…
Describe the places you've lived
I was born in the hospital in Waverly, Iowa and lived with my parents on a farm North West of Clarksville. We milked cows, raised pigs, grew corn and soybeans. It was a large two story house. We had a coal furnace and…
Did you have a car in high school?
When I was in high school I drove my parent farm pickup. It was a green Chevrolet. I think it was a 1951. If Dad needed the pickup I was allowed to drive their car. When I left for college I got a Chevrolet Fleetline.…
Great Granddaughters Aubrie Obermier, Adri Sheppard and Eyla Sheppard
Aubrie was born in Waterloo, Iowa on April 24, 2002. Remember going to the hospital to see her. She was a very pretty baby. We saw Aubrie often when she was small but over the years she drifted away from our side of the…
Happy Times With Great Grandchildren
Justin Grummitt came into our lives on October 7, 2002. She became a very important part of our lives since we helped take care of her part of the time. They lived in Aplington at the time and we would pick her up in…
Have you ever given or been the recipient of a random act of kindness?
The random act of kindness we were recipients of took a strange turn. We were eating in a Chinese restaurant one Sunday and Todd Edeker was also eating there . We noticed him whispering to the waitress and ,we thought,…
Have you ever had a terrible haircut
Yes, I have had a TERRIBLE haircut. It is a very memorable haircut. We were going to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary with a dance and I ,of course, wanted to look my best. I needed a haircut. I had recently won a…
Have you ever written a poem or a story, and if so, do you still have it?
Joyce is telling me I need to share this. The first Valentine’s Day after going with her I wrote a poem in her card. A teacher in home economics class picked up the card and read it. Luckily it was not a class I was in.…
How did your parents pick your name?
I believe that Robert had to be the most popular name at the time I was born. I believe this because I have friends around my age named Robert. Robert Litterer, Robert Kelm, Robert Voigts and Robert Jansen are all my…
How do you want to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered as an honest person who worked hard and loved his family and friends. My family has always been the most important thing in my life I have never been one to tell my children, grandchildren…
If you could choose any talents to have, what would they be?
I would like to have musical talents. I wish I had continued taking piano lessons and really learned how to play. It would be nice to be able to sing too. Both of my brothers, Bruce and Glenn, are very good at wood…
If you could have as much money as you wanted, what would you do with it?
I would probably start by buying an ATV to drive around in since it seems to be the fad right now. I am to old to start buying boats and campers. Maybe I would also get a convertible. I would also do some house…
My Confession on New Years Eve 2021
Sitting in our nice warm living room this New Years Eve with one of my favorite people. I really don’t care that we aren’t going out. This is my confession! Joyce actually wrote all my stories. That’s why I can say she…
My favorite high school memories
My favorite memories were playing sports with my friends. I pitched and played short stop in baseball. My Mother saved clippings from the paper telling about the games. A couple of the things in the articles were “Bob…
My First Job
After going to Iowa State University for one year I decided to get a job rather than go back the next year. Moved to Waterloo and started working four nights a week from 10 PM until 7 Am in the mailroom at Rath Packing…
My years in 4-H
I joined 4-H when I was around ten years old. We would have our meetings at members farms. Our leaders were Warren Severs and Neil Bolin. They were both very nice and helpful men. My projects were hogs and cows. I also…
One of My Favorite Pass Times
Shortly after we moved to the farm the owners of the bowling alley in Greene came out and asked us to join bowling teams. Joyce joined a team of lady bowler she didn’t know. Janice Metz was on this team and they soon…
Our Daughter Rhonda
Rhonda Sue was born on July 1, 1960 in the old Catholic hospital in Waverly Iowa. She weighed six pounds and four ounces. The day she was born I was cultivating corn. Joyce and I had a plan that she would stand by the…
Our First Son Michael Fenneman
Mike was born September 6, 1962 at the hospital in Charles City, Iowa. Our Dr. was Dr. McKean. When we decided it was time to go to the hospital he was at a church supper. He loved to drive his cars as fast as they…
Our Son Scott
Scott was born December 3rd, 1966 at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa. We went to the Dr.’s office on the 2nd because Bob wasn’t feeling well. While there Dr. McKeen examined Joyce too. Since Our baby was…
Tell me about a fun school field trip you had as a kid
When I was a senior in high school the senior class always got to go on an overnight fun trip. Our class chose to go to Wisconsin Dells. We went on a riverboat ride and other attractions. But, the real fun of the trip…
The history of the Fenneman Farm
Rudolph Fenneman was born august 25, 1840 in West Falle, Germany. He came to America in 1861. He settled in Bremer County Iowa where he farmed. On September 20, 1867 he married Amelia Gebert. They had four sons and one…
The Smith Family More Great Grandkids
Hayden, Landrey, Emery and Taye Smith live in Grimes, Iowa. Other than sometimes at Christmas and birthday parties and a few ballgames we haven’t been very present in their lives. It is fun keeping track of them on…
Two More Sweet Great Granddaughters
On September 19th 2009 our Grandson Anthony married Michelle Pint bringing her daughter Kendall into our family. Kendall was born April 25, 2005. What a beautiful, sweet four year old flower girl she was. Kendall has…
What advice would you give your great grandchildren?
I would advise them to study hard so they can earn a good living in the future. Find a career or job that you can enjoy doing. Absolutely stay away from any types of drugs. They ruin lives and happiness of not only you…
What are some of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday?
The past few years we have enjoyed going out for breakfast at different restaurants, in different towns, with our friends Reed and Wanda Weinberg. I love to watch sports so enjoy the baseball, golf and football on TV on…
What are the top 5 things that you and your spouse have in common?
We both enjoy seeing our kids and grandkids. We both love to travel. We enjoy going to movies. We enjoyed going to dances when we were a few years younger. We enjoy cards and card parties with friends.
What do you like most about your siblings?
My brothers are both intelligent, hard working, decent and well liked men. Glenn has had many medical problems but has never complained and has lived his life to the fullest. He has traveled, danced, hiked and done many…
What is one of the most expensive things that you've ever bought?
I am not know for buying anything unnecessarily. The one thing I bought that people thought I was being foolish for was a small 130 acre farm. I paid $500 an acre for it which was unheard of in 1968. I found out in…
What is one of your favorite trips that you've taken? What made it great?
The favorite trip we have taken was given to us by Mike and Natalie. It was a trip to many countries in Europe. It was a wonderful surprise and supposed to be our gifts for the rest of our lives. Mike took us to the…
What is the best meal you've ever had?
One meal that was delicious and fun that I remember was a time we went to Maryland to visit Joyce’s brother Darrell and his family. They took us to a small island near Chesapeake Bay for a fish dinner. We were seated at…
What is your best relationship advice?
My best advice is to be calm, listen to both sides of an argument and never lose your temper. Always treat people with kindness. Try not to judge others. Don’t gloat if your right. Well, maybe just a little bit. In a…
What things matter most to you in life?
What matters most to me are not things. My family matters most to me. Ask my wife who is helping me write this, I am not a person who needs things. I had a happy family growing up with my parents and my brothers Glenn…
What was one of your favorite playground games?
My favorite playground game in country school was softball. We also played Tag you’re it, Red Rover ,Annie Annie Over , Kick the Can and Captain May I. Rules for Annie Annie Over. It was played over the roof of the…
What was the neighborhood you grew up in like?
Growing up my neighborhood consisted of country farms. Our neighbors were our friends and even some were relatives. People would visit one another in the evenings and work together when the work required help. Glenn and…
What was your Dad like when you were a child?
My Dad was a hard working farmer. He was always pleasant and friendly with everyone. He made sure we always went to church on Sundays and were well behaved while we were there. We were never really disciplined harshly…
What was your favorite candy as a child?
My favorite candy was a Mars bar. I also liked Black Licorice. Some of the candies I remember but were not necessarily my favorites were Rock Candy and Lemon drops. My Grandpa and Grandma Kollman always has these on…
What was your first big trip?
Our first big family trip we took our sister-in - law Sandy and her family ,who were staying in Clarksville at the time ,to meet Darrell in Chicago at the navel base. He joined us and we went on to Ohio leaving them at…
What was your proposal like?
I’m afraid it wasn’t very romantic. Joyce was living with her sister Norma in Waterloo at the time. I picked her up to go to a dance at the Riviera in Janesville. I had put her ring in the glove compartment of the car.…
What was your role in the military?
While I was in college at Iowa State in Ames I joined the ROTC program. The Reserve Officers Training Corp. I went to meeting while in college. When no longer in school I went to meeting in Waterloo at night twice a…
What's the first major news story you can remember living through as a child?
The first major news story I can faintly remember is when World War II ended. I was only eight years old but in the back of my mind I can remember my Mother in the kitchen ironing when the announcement was made over the…
Which sports teams were you a fan of as a child?
As a young child I don’t recall being a fan of any certain team. When in high school I started following the Chicago Cubs on the radio. They have continued to be my favorite baseball team. I have only seen them play in…
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Who did you go to prom with?
Back in the 50’s proms were nothing like they are today. The junior class would choose a theme and then order decoration. They would then have the fun of a couple nights at school preparing the gymnasium for the big…
Who had the most positive influence on you as a child?
I think my Grandparents, Herman and Minnie Kollman, had the most positive influence on me as I was growing up. My Mother was an only child so Grandpa and Grandma spent a lot of time with us on the farm. They would come…