Robert George Wall

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota as the only child to humble and very loving parents, Gerhard/George Dyck/Dorel Wall and Dorothea Maria Theresa Krausert, Bob lived a typical American childhood of the 1930's and 40's. The frozen winters up north taught him to ice skate and the summers allowed him to enjoy the family cabin on Elk Lake.

Growing-up in post-Depression America, Bob learned the value of hard work at a very young age while watching his parents work two and three jobs at a time, leaving him home alone after school to heat a can of baked beans on the stove for dinner. He played football, basketball and baseball for Central High School in Minneapolis until he had to quit to go to work. After high school graduation, Bob and his best buddy, Jack Jarzyna, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force to avoid being drafted into the Korean War. Bob was stationed as a radio operator at Clark AFB in the Philippines. A few years later, using the G.I. Bill to attend college, and exploring his new-found love of learning, Bob achieved Bachelor's and Master's Degrees at the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with honors. He is forever a Texas Longhorn in spirit.

After the War ended, Bob's first assignment was in San Antonio, Texas. Upon his first day in his new office, a gorgeous brunette named Imogene "Jeanie" Clark waved him over to take the empty desk next to hers. It was love at first sight for both of them and they immediately began dating. After one month, the two lovebirds were driving down a two-lane road when their car was struck head-on by a drunk driver, severely injuring Jeanie and hospitalizing her for five months. Bob visited her at her bedside every single day as their love grew deeper. Bob proposed with a ring in an empty Corn Flakes box, the only container he could find. They were married on April 7, 1956 in the hospital chapel, Jeanie was on crutches, all of her nurses were in attendance. Thus began a 70-year love story. They always called each other "Honeybee".

Two sweet little girls were born to them: Lesli and Terry. They moved to Minneapolis in 1960 and then back to Dallas, Texas in 1969. Texas became their home once again. Their lives were marked by backyard pool-time, boating on Lake Texoma and fun travel.

Bob and Jean visited all 50 states, Canada and many other countries, Scotland being Bob's favorite. For their 50th wedding anniversary, Bob took Jean to fabulous Las Vegas where he secretly arranged for a white stretch limo to drive them to a small chapel to renew their vows in front of none other than Elvis Presley, (or at least somebody who looked and sang like him). Their 66th wedding anniversary took them down all of Route 66. Then there was the I-35 road trip from San Antonio to Minneapolis and South Dakota. They spent all their time together, holding hands all along the way, and never lacked for conversation. Leaving their beloved Texas and moving to Utah full-time in 2023 to be near their daughters, the couple spent their 70th wedding anniversary, in April 2026, quietly at home. This lifetime achievement was marked by so much positive energy, joy and commitment to one another that it inspires many to this day.

A huge highlight of Bob's life happened in 1983 when he met his father's long-lost family in Manitoba, Canada. In 1927, at age 17, Bob's father “immigrated” to the U.S. snuggled-up to a circus lion in its cage, so as to avoid the border authorities. His father never spoke of it until, through Jean's love of genealogical research, the story came to light for the first time. With 56 years of catching-up to do, a Wall family reunion was held in Manitoba with 100 new-found relatives in attendance.

Bob's work ethic was unparalleled. He successfully ran a multi-state chain of fine clothing stores: Clyde Campbell Menswear, and was the director of the Small Business Development Center at Northeast Texas Community College, mentoring those wanting to become entrepreneurs. He finally retired at age 75. He made sure that his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren would grow-up without worries, and with every comfort and opportunity that he never had as a child in the Depression eating baked beans all by himself.

Bob's favorite hobbies were photography and WWII history, and he knew everything about them. He was a runner for years, water- and snow-skied, and later in life played a bit of golf with his grandson. When Bob was 74-years-old, he scored his first-ever (and only) hole-in-one. He owned a hundred years of cars: His first car was a 1924 Roadster that had no windows and had to be parked facing downhill so it would start, and his last car was a 2024 Honda CRV. He was always up for anything fun, anytime, and he loved being spontaneous.

Bob was gifted with an excellent sense-of-humor. He could see the funny side of anything this life could throw at him. He laughed so hard that his face would turn beet-red, with tears running down his cheeks, unable to talk to tell you what he was even laughing at. Often it was something very minor like the dog had given him the side-eye, but to Bob it was unspeakably hilarious. His sense-of-humor was still going strong until his very last day.

One thing will forever be indisputable: Bob loved Jean with his whole heart. He never used the words "I", "me", or "mine"; it was always "our”, “us” or "we". Everything Jean was interested in, Bob took interest in. Bob flew with his sweetheart all over the world so Jean could do genealogical research, traipsing through graveyards, church basements and courthouses for decades before there was any such thing as the internet. And he was more than happy to do it because it was important to her and it made her happy, and he only wanted to make her happy. And he did.

In Bob's final days, he was surrounded by the warmth and love of his family, and he was so wonderfully cared for by the people at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Salt Lake City. The family would like to thank the SLC Veterans Administration, Visiting Angels (especially Heather Reyna), and neighbors Susan Gustaveson and Carol Van Wagoner for taking such good care of Bob during his last weeks.

In his final moments on this side of Heaven's veil, Bob was lying next to his Honeybee in a hospital bed, just as they had been exactly 70 years before.

Bob is survived by his sweetheart and best friend, Imogene "Jean"; daughters Lesli Rowan and Terry Gilbert (husband Mark); grandchildren Sean Zimmerman-Wall (wife Vanessa), Ariel Walker (husband Marc), and Amber Zimmerman; great-grandchildren Wyatt and Victoria Zimmerman-Wall. He can't wait to be with them again.

A private graveside service with military honors will take place on July 23, 2026 in the Magnolia section of Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park in Salt Lake City, Utah.