Robert Landenberger

Long time Midland resident, Robert (Bob) Landenberger, passed away early Monday morning, January 16, 2012 at the age of 88. Bob was born in Olney, Illinois on May 6, 1923, to Robert Wallace Landenberger, Sr. and Margaret Malone. Bob graduated from High School in Galesburg, Illinois in 1941 and immediately joined the United States Airforce with the dream of becomng a pilot. They recommended he begin training to be an airplane mechanic first but before he could enter flight school, Pearl Harbor was attacked and he was sent overseas as a mechanic. He spent a year in England, a year in North Africa and a year in Italy. While in the desert of Africa, he maintained the P-38 planes that helped Patton defeat Rommel's tank brigade. Two of the distinguished awards he received from his service were the Silver and Bronze Battle Star Awards. He returned to the states when the war ended in June 1945 and entered Oklahoma University. There he fell in love with a 17 year old Pharmacy student, Eleanor (Lynn) Kantowski, in his Algebra class; they dated a year and were engaged a year and married in 1947. Upon graduating in 1950 with degrees in Geology and Pharmacy they embarked on a long journey,

Bob started his career as a roughneck for Kirkwood Morgan Drilling Company in Alice, Victoria, Port Lavaca and Palacios, Texas. He then went to work for Reed Roller Bit in Corpus Christi. Ultimately, he was hired as a Geologist for Cities Service working in the offices in Lamesa, Midand, Texas and Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Roswell, New Mexico. In 1958 he went to work for Buffalo Oil Company in Artesia, New Meico. When Buffalo dissolved, Bob began working for Yates Brothers and Yates Petroleum Compnay. He then worked as an independent until 1968 when he and Lynn with their six children returned to Midland joining Solar Oil Company as their head geologist. There he met Jim Henry, Solar's head engineer and in 1969 they formed H & L Consultants and later, Henry and Landenberger, Inc. He retired in 1977 and the company is today Henry Resources.

After retirement, Bob and Lynn enjoyed spending holidays and family reunions at Horseshoe Bay and traveling the country in their R.V. He enjoyed boating, water skiing, fishing and hunting. He was an avid reader of western stories and loved John Wayne movies. Bob loved all people and always had a smile for everyone. He was the happiest when he was around his family and dear friends. He invited everyone he knew in Midland to come to his much anticipated 90th birthday and proudly wore his World War II hat everywhere he went. Children of all ages gravitated to Bob and he entertained them with his many magic tricks and anecdotes. His fondest hobby was collecting wrist watches and building photo clocks for friends and family.

Bob is survived by his loving wife Lynn and they would have celebrated their 65 years of marriage in June. He is also survived by his children: Robert Landenberger, III and his wife, Karen of Knoxville, Tennessee and their children, Heather and her fiancee, Ryan Kielhoffer of Dallas, and their son, Bryan and his wife, Sara of Knoxville, Tennessee; Dan Landenberger and his wife, Marlene of Midland and their daughter Megan and her husband Kit Hughes of Midland, Holly and her husband Matt Starr and ther son, Dylan of Houston; Matt Landenberger and his wife Teresa and their sons, Ryan and Alex of Bedford, Texas; Jennifer Williams of Dallas and her three children. Meredith and Blake who both attend TCU in Fort Worth and Kathryn of Dallas; Susan Young and her husband Craig of Waco and their two children Brett and Diane; Janet Fresquez and her husband, Rick of Dallas and their children, Jarrod and Rachel of Dallas, Texas.

A rosary at 6:00 p.m. at Ellis Funeral Home will be held on Thursday, January 19th with a visitation to follow from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2012 at St. Ann's Catholic Church, 1906 West Texas Avenue, Midland, Texas 79701. The Pallbearers will be Bob's three oldest grandsons, Jarrod Fresquez of Dallas, Bryan Landenberger of Knoxville, Tenessee and Blake Williams of Fort Worth, Texas and nephews Joe Kantowski of Lawton, Oklahoma, Craig Kimray of Dallas and Bill Howard of Carrollton, Texas. Honorary Pallbearers will be his dear and long time friends, Jim Henry, Gene Sledge, Jim Burford, and Tracey Clark of Midland, Roy Davis of Hobbs, New Mexico and Buddy Berry of Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home of Midland. Online condolences can be sent to Bob's email address: [email protected].