Born in Milwaukee, WI on May 1st, 1943, Bob was loved by many and will be dearly missed. A passionate inventor and creator, he definitely had his own way with life!
His business accomplishments stemmed only from old-school guts and determination with a strong foundational commitment to honesty and quality. His leadership was always based on these values.
Considered a fearless and unapologetically blunt type of leader with a sense for making the right call under pressure, His notable accomplishments included:
Founder of ROMCO Manufacturing in 1975.
Inventor/Founder of Tru-Turn Precision Model Products, known worldwide as the very finest!
His most important accomplishments included his devotion as a father and grandfather, as well as his mentoring to others outside his immediate family.
From a young age, breaking things in his dad’s Harley shop, Bob loved anything mechanical. He wouldn’t stop until he knew how something worked! This just comes natural as Bob is from a long line of manufacturing engineering in his family.
An expert machinist from a very young age, when he arrived in the Air Force, his skills and ability were quickly recognized. He was placed on an ICBM missile squad in the early days of the Cold War.
After the military, he worked in Houston for Continental Can Co. and eventually the newly constructed Anheuser Busch Brewery. This all led him to the founding of ROMCO 50 years ago in 1975, which his family carries-on today.
Entering the workforce at a young age, his advanced abilities caused elder coworkers some slight grief to describe it lightly!
His storytelling abilities were legendary and riveting. (and of-course none of them ever included any exaggeration!) The stories of hunts and fishing with young Chuck Klafka, Alan Hines, and Dicky Medford were legend.
Bob volunteered for the optimist club, the Boy Scouts, the sunshine kids, and even longtime friend Wayne Riddles mayoral campaign in the 80’s!
Bob designed, built and donated the best pinewood-derby racing track in Texas for local pack 810 and it remained in use at-least 20 years later.
Of all the cars, boats, dune buggies and motorcycles he ever built, bob’s favorite was his ‘33 5-window Ford coupe he built as a young teen from a rust bucket!
Later in life he found another ‘33 5-window which he placed under his care and enjoyed until the end. As he lost functional sight, sometimes simply sitting and staring at his machine was satisfaction indeed.
Bob was a licensed pilot, a boat racer, perfectly-legal street-racer! Avid Gold-Wing rider, Inventor, machinist, mechanic, unofficial welder, draftsman, fisherman, hunter, business leader, Dad and Grandfather!
We will all agree there was only one Bob! He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Bob is survived by his sons: Ric Obenberger & wife Carol, of Deer Park, Texas and Aaron Obenberger & wife Shanna of Seabrook, Texas. Longtime loving companion Charlotte Kendall of Deer Park, Texas; grandchildren Taylor White & husband Logan, Peyton Obenberger, Michelle Victorick, Megan Cathey & husband Chase, Laney Obenberger and Dane Obenberger. As well as 4 great-grandchildren Ayden Murphy, Preston Cathey, Harper Cathey and Bexley White; sister Irene Allen & husband Craig of LaPorte, Texas; nephews William Becker and Robert Becker.
Preceded in death by his parents, Robert A. (Bob) Obenberger Sr. and Gladys Goddard-Obenberger.
In lieu of your thoughtful flowers, the family asks that you might donate to either of these charities: The American Macular Degeneration Foundation so that others may win the fight he fought against blindness or The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (a cause for which he grew close from fundraising adventures during his years of motorcycling with the local gold wing riders).
Please join us at 9am March 18th 2025 for visitation and 10am Memorial service with reception to follow at Grand View Funeral Home.
DONATIONS
American Macular Degeneration FoundationPO Box 515, Northampton, Massachusetts 01061-0515
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation380 Knollwood St, Suite H #125, Winston Salem, North Carolina 27103
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