Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Robert D. "Bob" Zehentner, 85, of 325 S. Grandview Ave., died Friday, Sept. 10, 2004, at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Dubuque. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., Dubuque, where there will be a parish wake service at 3 p.m.
He was born on Oct. 10, 1918, in Dubuque, son of Mathias and Louise (Kienzle) Zehentner. He married Mary Rita Herber on Nov. 3, 1943, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Dubuque.
He graduated from Dubuque Senior High School, and was president of the class of 1937.
Mr. Zehentner was the owner of the "King of Clubs" before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in early 1941. He flew 74 combat missions as the navigator/bombardier of a B-25 crew serving in the North Africa and the China Burma India theatres and received many decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. Bob served his country proudly in the Air Force Reserves into the 1970s, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Highly patriotic, he flew the "Stars and Stripes" daily outside his home.
Bob also was a highly successful businessman and civic leader in the Dubuque area for many years. Upon his return from the war, he founded Zehentner's Sporting Goods in 1946, which remained open for 56 years. His war experience significantly influenced the choice of his life's work as he wanted to do something that inspired peace and brought families together. His motto, "the family that plays together, stays together." A testament to his success, Zehentner's was named the No. 1 Sporting Goods Dealer of America in 1954.
Active in civic service throughout his life, Zehentner was president of the Dubuque County Conservation Society, where he led the effort to create Swiss Valley recreation area. He spearheaded efforts with the State Legislature to make Julien Dubuque's grave a state park.
Bob played on and sponsored many fastpitch softball teams in the 1930s and '40s, becoming inducted into the Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame in 1978. He later served as president. He also was active in the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and the Elks Club. In 1997, he was inducted into Dubuque Senior High School's Athletic Hall of Fame.
He believed his greatest accomplishment was the creation of a family and making the world a better place for those who followed. He had a great love of country, the outdoors and fishing, big-band music and family. In his later years, he took great joy in his grandchildren, instilling in them the same values he gave his children: honesty and integrity, hard work, service to others and humor.
Surviving are his loving wife of 60 years, Mary Rita; seven children, Mary Louise (Richard) Lorenz, of Dousman, Wis., Jayne A. Zehentner, of Dubuque, Judy M. (Bob Griffin) Zehentner, of Palisades, N.Y., Teri R. Zehentner, of East Chatham, N.Y., Bob J. (Andrea) Zehentner, of Houston, Barb E. (Mike) McKinlay, of Dubuque, and Steve H. (Sibylle) Zehentner, of New York; 14 grandchildren; and three step grandchildren. He also is survived by sisters-in-law, Mrs. Joe (Eileen) Zehentner and Dolores Apel, and a brother-in-law, Herb Herber, all of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Theresa York and Lucille Bisanz; three brothers, Joseph, George and Matthew Zehentner; and a son-in-law, Mike Becker.
A Robert D. Zehentner Memorial Fund has been established.
Robert D. "Bob" Zehentner, 85, of 325 S. Grandview Ave., died Friday, Sept. 10, 2004, at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Dubuque. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., Dubuque, where there will be a parish wake service at 3 p.m.
He was born on Oct. 10, 1918, in Dubuque, son of Mathias and Louise (Kienzle) Zehentner. He married Mary Rita Herber on Nov. 3, 1943, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Dubuque.
He graduated from Dubuque Senior High School, and was president of the class of 1937.
Mr. Zehentner was the owner of the "King of Clubs" before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in early 1941. He flew 74 combat missions as the navigator/bombardier of a B-25 crew serving in the North Africa and the China Burma India theatres and received many decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. Bob served his country proudly in the Air Force Reserves into the 1970s, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Highly patriotic, he flew the "Stars and Stripes" daily outside his home.
Bob also was a highly successful businessman and civic leader in the Dubuque area for many years. Upon his return from the war, he founded Zehentner's Sporting Goods in 1946, which remained open for 56 years. His war experience significantly influenced the choice of his life's work as he wanted to do something that inspired peace and brought families together. His motto, "the family that plays together, stays together." A testament to his success, Zehentner's was named the No. 1 Sporting Goods Dealer of America in 1954.
Active in civic service throughout his life, Zehentner was president of the Dubuque County Conservation Society, where he led the effort to create Swiss Valley recreation area. He spearheaded efforts with the State Legislature to make Julien Dubuque's grave a state park.
Bob played on and sponsored many fastpitch softball teams in the 1930s and '40s, becoming inducted into the Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame in 1978. He later served as president. He also was active in the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and the Elks Club. In 1997, he was inducted into Dubuque Senior High School's Athletic Hall of Fame.
He believed his greatest accomplishment was the creation of a family and making the world a better place for those who followed. He had a great love of country, the outdoors and fishing, big-band music and family. In his later years, he took great joy in his grandchildren, instilling in them the same values he gave his children: honesty and integrity, hard work, service to others and humor.
Surviving are his loving wife of 60 years, Mary Rita; seven children, Mary Louise (Richard) Lorenz, of Dousman, Wis., Jayne A. Zehentner, of Dubuque, Judy M. (Bob Griffin) Zehentner, of Palisades, N.Y., Teri R. Zehentner, of East Chatham, N.Y., Bob J. (Andrea) Zehentner, of Houston, Barb E. (Mike) McKinlay, of Dubuque, and Steve H. (Sibylle) Zehentner, of New York; 14 grandchildren; and three step grandchildren. He also is survived by sisters-in-law, Mrs. Joe (Eileen) Zehentner and Dolores Apel, and a brother-in-law, Herb Herber, all of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Theresa York and Lucille Bisanz; three brothers, Joseph, George and Matthew Zehentner; and a son-in-law, Mike Becker.
A Robert D. Zehentner Memorial Fund has been established.
Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Robert D. "Bob" Zehentner, 85, of 325 S. Grandview Ave., died Friday, Sept. 10, 2004, at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Dubuque. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., Dubuque, where there will be a parish wake service at 3 p.m.
He was born on Oct. 10, 1918, in Dubuque, son of Mathias and Louise (Kienzle) Zehentner. He married Mary Rita Herber on Nov. 3, 1943, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Dubuque.
He graduated from Dubuque Senior High School, and was president of the class of 1937.
Mr. Zehentner was the owner of the "King of Clubs" before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in early 1941. He flew 74 combat missions as the navigator/bombardier of a B-25 crew serving in the North Africa and the China Burma India theatres and received many decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. Bob served his country proudly in the Air Force Reserves into the 1970s, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Highly patriotic, he flew the "Stars and Stripes" daily outside his home.
Bob also was a highly successful businessman and civic leader in the Dubuque area for many years. Upon his return from the war, he founded Zehentner's Sporting Goods in 1946, which remained open for 56 years. His war experience significantly influenced the choice of his life's work as he wanted to do something that inspired peace and brought families together. His motto, "the family that plays together, stays together." A testament to his success, Zehentner's was named the No. 1 Sporting Goods Dealer of America in 1954.
Active in civic service throughout his life, Zehentner was president of the Dubuque County Conservation Society, where he led the effort to create Swiss Valley recreation area. He spearheaded efforts with the State Legislature to make Julien Dubuque's grave a state park.
Bob played on and sponsored many fastpitch softball teams in the 1930s and '40s, becoming inducted into the Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame in 1978. He later served as president. He also was active in the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and the Elks Club. In 1997, he was inducted into Dubuque Senior High School's Athletic Hall of Fame.
He believed his greatest accomplishment was the creation of a family and making the world a better place for those who followed. He had a great love of country, the outdoors and fishing, big-band music and family. In his later years, he took great joy in his grandchildren, instilling in them the same values he gave his children: honesty and integrity, hard work, service to others and humor.
Surviving are his loving wife of 60 years, Mary Rita; seven children, Mary Louise (Richard) Lorenz, of Dousman, Wis., Jayne A. Zehentner, of Dubuque, Judy M. (Bob Griffin) Zehentner, of Palisades, N.Y., Teri R. Zehentner, of East Chatham, N.Y., Bob J. (Andrea) Zehentner, of Houston, Barb E. (Mike) McKinlay, of Dubuque, and Steve H. (Sibylle) Zehentner, of New York; 14 grandchildren; and three step grandchildren. He also is survived by sisters-in-law, Mrs. Joe (Eileen) Zehentner and Dolores Apel, and a brother-in-law, Herb Herber, all of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Theresa York and Lucille Bisanz; three brothers, Joseph, George and Matthew Zehentner; and a son-in-law, Mike Becker.
A Robert D. Zehentner Memorial Fund has been established.
Robert D. "Bob" Zehentner, 85, of 325 S. Grandview Ave., died Friday, Sept. 10, 2004, at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Dubuque. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., Dubuque, where there will be a parish wake service at 3 p.m.
He was born on Oct. 10, 1918, in Dubuque, son of Mathias and Louise (Kienzle) Zehentner. He married Mary Rita Herber on Nov. 3, 1943, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Dubuque.
He graduated from Dubuque Senior High School, and was president of the class of 1937.
Mr. Zehentner was the owner of the "King of Clubs" before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in early 1941. He flew 74 combat missions as the navigator/bombardier of a B-25 crew serving in the North Africa and the China Burma India theatres and received many decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. Bob served his country proudly in the Air Force Reserves into the 1970s, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Highly patriotic, he flew the "Stars and Stripes" daily outside his home.
Bob also was a highly successful businessman and civic leader in the Dubuque area for many years. Upon his return from the war, he founded Zehentner's Sporting Goods in 1946, which remained open for 56 years. His war experience significantly influenced the choice of his life's work as he wanted to do something that inspired peace and brought families together. His motto, "the family that plays together, stays together." A testament to his success, Zehentner's was named the No. 1 Sporting Goods Dealer of America in 1954.
Active in civic service throughout his life, Zehentner was president of the Dubuque County Conservation Society, where he led the effort to create Swiss Valley recreation area. He spearheaded efforts with the State Legislature to make Julien Dubuque's grave a state park.
Bob played on and sponsored many fastpitch softball teams in the 1930s and '40s, becoming inducted into the Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame in 1978. He later served as president. He also was active in the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and the Elks Club. In 1997, he was inducted into Dubuque Senior High School's Athletic Hall of Fame.
He believed his greatest accomplishment was the creation of a family and making the world a better place for those who followed. He had a great love of country, the outdoors and fishing, big-band music and family. In his later years, he took great joy in his grandchildren, instilling in them the same values he gave his children: honesty and integrity, hard work, service to others and humor.
Surviving are his loving wife of 60 years, Mary Rita; seven children, Mary Louise (Richard) Lorenz, of Dousman, Wis., Jayne A. Zehentner, of Dubuque, Judy M. (Bob Griffin) Zehentner, of Palisades, N.Y., Teri R. Zehentner, of East Chatham, N.Y., Bob J. (Andrea) Zehentner, of Houston, Barb E. (Mike) McKinlay, of Dubuque, and Steve H. (Sibylle) Zehentner, of New York; 14 grandchildren; and three step grandchildren. He also is survived by sisters-in-law, Mrs. Joe (Eileen) Zehentner and Dolores Apel, and a brother-in-law, Herb Herber, all of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Theresa York and Lucille Bisanz; three brothers, Joseph, George and Matthew Zehentner; and a son-in-law, Mike Becker.
A Robert D. Zehentner Memorial Fund has been established.
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