Robert L. Moyer

Robert Moyer (Pop Pop) was a rare talent combined with a compassionate heart. At all times a loving and generous husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Bob also channeled his relentless energy and always-questioning mind to become a successful career man. He was a great judge of character, able to assess within minutes of meeting somewhat what their passion and potential was. He used his gift to reach positive results, whether in business, personal relationships or competitive sports. From classmates to army buddies and employees to executive, Bob earned the love and respected of those who had the privilege of knowing him.

Robert was born June 12, 1931 in Ottumwa, Iowa, the son of Harry and Blanche (Blount) Moyer and brother to Ramona. His father worked for the railroad and was a pressman for a local company, and his mother made draperies for Yonkers Department Store. Since both parents worked, Bob’s maternal grandmother was responsible for his comings and goings—mostly goings. Though petite, she matched Bob in fortitude. She had a way with a frying pan that wasn't always for cooking. One winter Bob and friends were skating on the river when he fell through the ice. Bleeding and wet, he was greeted by his grandmother who made him walk to the back door to avoid getting the carpet wet and bloody.

With hard working parents as examples, Bob grew up with a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. Already as a child who liked to fish the Des Moines River, Bob thought to take his catch to the Catholic Church on Fish Fridays and sell them after mass was over. His budding newspaper career started when he took a job as a paper boy. His unspoken motto was: if one route was good, two were better. Likewise at the local bowling alley where he set pins: if one lane was good, three were better.

Young Bob was talented in sports, and during his teen years he bowled (perhaps understandably), played horseshoes and golfed with his father. In high school, he excelled in football for the Ottumwa Bulldogs, often playing offense and defense and earning him a scholarship to Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. Initially Bob had not contemplated college, but his scholarship brought him to the place he was meant to be for one other very good reason. He met Carol Ramsay at a freshman dance, and a romance began that culminated in marriage three years later at the college chapel.

Life as a newlywed was full. Bob worked his way through college at a local concrete company, building burial vaults and setting up for funerals at the local Fairfield cemetery. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree in math, Bob was drafted into the U.S. Army, just one week after graduation.

Once again, Bob made the most of his circumstances. He was stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he later and became a demolition expert. He ascended to the rank of sergeant and was in charge of daily calisthenics. He played volleyball and lead his team to a championship in Chicago, Illinois. Not so illustriously, Bob was listed as AOL for a time, but when his superiors understood the reason, they soon forgave the offense. Bob’s wife had just given birth to his first child, and he desperately wanted to see Carol and his baby daughter, Ann. In time, his life would be further enriched by the births of his sons, Doug and Scott.

After his tour of duty, Bob learned that the GI Bill was available for him to attend college, so he enrolled at Iowa State in Ames to study, teach and receive an engineering degree. His career pursuits took him to Illinois, where he worked as Production Manager at the Decatur Herald and Review. Five years later, while vacationing on the east coast, a rained-out golf match ended in a tour of a large newspaper in New Jersey. At the end of the week, he had a new job as an engineer and Director of Operations for the Trenton Times and Daily Journal, working in the production end of the business for the next 37 years. He was admired and respected by co-workers and even the union representatives with whom he had to negotiate.

With engineering skills and an inventive mind, Bob was the first production manager to eliminate the "hot-type" and convert the paper to a computer based system of "cold-press/resin" based printing plates. He literally worked around the clock during the conversion, not coming home for days. As always, he did what it took to be successful.

Although Bob loved the challenge of a large newspaper, he made the change in 1973 and returned to the Midwest and joined the Small Newspaper Group as Director of Production. Within four years, Bob became Vice President of Operations for the SNG. His mantra was, "A press should never be silent," and so he proceeded to secure contracts to print many more midwest newspapers. During his time with SNG, he was most proud of winning the initial contract to print the midwest circulation for USA Today. After leaving the SNG he worked a short time for a Cape Girardo, Missouri newspaper, finishing off his career in 1995 as Vice President of Operations for Pulitzer Newspaper at the Southtown Economist in Chicago. Not surprisingly, wherever he worked, Bob was also invested in his community. He was a member of the Kankakee Country Club, Kiwanis, the Board of National City (First Trust), President of the Board at Riverside Hospital and a member of the Methodist Church.

As busy as his life was, Bob always found time for others. For example, he and friend Len Small had a close working relationship at the newspaper but also on the golf course. He was good friends with Carol's brother Harry Ramsay, whom he first met at Parsons College. The two of them grew very close and competitive, good-naturedly trying to "one up" each other every chance they got. In the fall of 1964, "Uncle Harry" delivered a shoe box with the family's first and only dog. Minnie was with the Moyer clan for the next 14 years.

One year for Bob's birthday, his sons and son-in-law Gary presented Bob with a wonderful assortment of golf clothes and accessories. After examining the gifts, Bob was surprised that the "kids" could afford such gifts. Their response was that they didn't have to spend a cent. They charged the gifts to Bob's account at Kankakee Country Club. Instead of getting mad, Bob thought it was great!

While always very gracious when receiving gifts, Bob loved nothing better than giving to others. He was generous in his support of his children and grandchildren's college education, establishing a Grandchildren's Trust fund to give them the same opportunities that he valued.

Many Moyer family memories were created during summer and winter holidays. In the early years, Bob and Carol would pack the car and drive the family to Iowa to visit his parents, in-laws, and sister Ramona and husband, Bob Hild. Trips to Iowa meant traveling straight through from Yardley, Pennsylvania, only being thwarted by an occasional snow storm. When visiting his sister on their Webster City farm, the family celebration inevitably ended with a pig roast and live music that went late into the evening. Years later on summer vacations to New Hampshire at Twin Lake Village, the family joined in golf and tennis matches, canoe races, picnics at Kersarge Mountain, and visited good friends from Wisconsin and Washington DC.

Though he was skilled at tennis and squash, golf was Bob's number one passion. If he wasn't practicing at the Kankakee Country Club, he was reading how to improve his game. It was his goal to win the prestigious Rolison Golf Tournament, and in 1993, Bob and his team reached that goal. Wistfully, Bob always imagined his love for golf would rub off on his children. Many summer evenings were spent with the kids at the local driving range or in the back yard hitting whiffle balls. He was a constant encouragement to his children and often quoted his own father with a particularly favorite saying: "YDG—you did good."

Being a driven man, Bob was an avid reader. Every evening, he could be found reading a book, and most trips to a store ended in a new book purchase. Bob had a passion to learn and improve himself in all aspects of life. In the 80s, he began to research the stock market, learning all he could about new companies and holdings. One of his mentors, Warren Buffett, surprised Bob by signing his initial stock receipt with the quote, "Bob, Great Investment, Warren Buffett."

Taking the best from successful people, Bob had a way of getting others to believe they could accomplish any task if they just worked hard enough. His positive outlook on life was such that people sought to be a part of his endeavors.

Bob grew up in a loving but modest home and never had his own bedroom or personal space. Yet as his career and personal success grew, he never hesitated to help family and friends with their careers and dreams. From a young mischievous boy in Ottumwa, Bob was driven to be the best he could be.

Robert L. Moyer, age 81, of Kankakee, IL passed away on Sunday, September 09, 2012 at Prairieview Lutheran in Danforth, IL. He is survived by his wife; one daughter: Ann (Gary) Pasek of Midland, MI; two sons: Doug (Ann) Moyer of Noblesville, IN, Scott (Laurie) Moyer of Roscoe, IL; seven grandchildren: Megan Rankin, Brian Pasek, Sara Carpenter, Curtis Moyer, Joey Moyer, Allison Braimah, Ryan Moyer and fiancé Aryn Esser; six great grandchildren: Izaiah, Zion, Annaliese, Lena, Leonardo, Isabella, Jazmine; one sister: Ramona Hild of Webster City, Iowa, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Bobby Hild.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. at the Kankakee Chapel of the Schreffler Life Story Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Faith Place; 403 North 4th Street Danforth, IL, 60930