When his parents needed milk to feed his younger sisters, Bob stepped on his bike pedals, returning with two pails slung over his handlebars.
When the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana noticed his academic prowess, Bob not only studied history, but stepped into it by becoming the first in his family to earn a college degree (and a reputation for mailing his laundry home to his mother).
When his country called, Bob stood up and stepped forward, serving for 22 years as a Supply and Service Officer for the US Army before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, decorated with the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit.
When his nieces and nephews felt the void left by their father, Bob stepped into that space to fill absent shoes as only a beloved uncle could.
When a recently widowed Barbara (Baltz) Burford invited a nice soldier from Fort Leavenworth to a housewarming party, an officer and a gentleman knocked on the new condo’s door and stepped off the unfinished stoop into a new way of life.
When Barbara selected a pricey restaurant to test his appetite for soon-to-be larger line-items—given a family of five—Bob withstood the test.
When the familiar and simple path of bachelorhood forked with the complex, unknown path of step-fatherhood, Bob with one step became husband and dad.
When the bliss of a Hawaiian tour became the nightmare of poor public education, Bob stepped across oceans, transferring to Belgium; even buying a Flying Fur ticket for “Goldie,” the cat.
When Belinda drove into a ditch on a weekday, Bob stepped away from work, heeding the call to “bring a rope.”
When Doug returned from a newspaper route bearing German Shepherd teeth marks, Dad stepped onto canine property for a talk, tire iron in hand—just in case.
When Cindy’s driving record threatened a cancellation from USAA, Dad stepped into the insurance maze and secured a policy all her own.
When Friday mornings came around weekly, Bob optimistically placed his standing order for “breakfast with the boys.”
When grandchildren would awake hungry after overnights, Grandpa stepped into the Quartermaster role, requisitioning donuts.
When his love of four decades began to disappear behind the haze of Alzheimer’s, Bob stepped into the fog to stand by her side.
For 91 years, Bob Rohlfing stood up, stepped in, stepped up, and stood out, combining sacrifice, loyalty, laughter and learning every step of the way.
On May 18, 2025, Bob stepped out of his earthly body, stepped into his heavenly body, and stood in faith before his creator.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Herman (“Sam”) and Ida (Deichmann) Rohlfing; his wife of 44 years, Barbara Ann Rohlfing; his niece Rhonda Gross, and his son-in-law Geoff Gomerdinger. He is survived by his children, Belinda Simonini (Ronn) of Carlsbad, CA; John "Doug" Burford (Claudia) of Mission, KS, and Cindy Gomerdinger (Kevin Babson) of Denver, CO; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters Mary Gross of Waterloo, IL, Martha Rohlfing of Waterloo, IL, and Ruth Rohlfing of Red Bud, IL; and his nephew and namesake, Bob Gross (Cate) of Red Bud, IL, and nieces Meg Knop (Terry) of Chester, IL, and Jackie Feltrop of Roswell, GA, and their children.
A Celebration of Life preceded by visitation will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Hillcrest Covenant Church, 8801 Nall Avenue, Prairie Village, KS. Interment to follow at a later date at Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Emporia, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the soldiers assistance organization, STEP (Support the Enlisted Project) (TeamStepUSA.org). Donations designated in memory of Robert Rohlfing will be matched through June. Donate at https://givebutter.com/teamstep. Checks may be made out to Support The Enlisted Project at 9915 Businesspark Ave., Suite A, San Diego, CA 92131
