Kenneth Merle ROBB

ROBB, YOUNG, BRENNEMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/19/2011 at 18:43:27

August 19, 1919 -- March 11, 2011

Durango resident Kenneth Merle Robb died Friday, March 11, 2011, at Four Corners Healthcare Center in Durango. He was 91. Known as "Ken," he was born to Ernest and Ethel (Young) Robb on Aug. 19, 1919, on the family farm near Goldfield, Iowa. He grew up in Webster City, Iowa, and graduated from Webster City High School in 1939. On April 12, 1942, he married Florence Brenneman in Webster City. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Robbs lived in Le Mars, Iowa , while running the Dunk'Em Inn doughnut and ice cream shop. They went on to live in Dakota City and Humboldt, both in Iowa, where Mr. Robb was a Carnation Milk distributor. In 1955, the Robbs adopted their daughter, Connie Jo. Until 1962, they lived in Humboldt and then moved to Badger, Iowa, where the Robbs owned and operated the local cafe. Mr. Robb left the restaurant business and purchased a Carnation Milk franchise in Lohrville, Iowa, in 1963. His milkman duties included the now lost service of placing milk on his customers' doorsteps or even in their refrigerators. In Lohrville, Mr. Robb was a member of the United Methodist Church and the Lohrville Community Club. He served on the local city council, donated 100 pints of blood and volunteered with the fire department. Mr. Robb also loved to play golf with his friends.

His semi-retirement began in the 1980s, but he still worked as a lawn mower, driver and assistant for Brown Funeral Homes in Iowa. The Robbs became snowbirds and settled in Arizona City, Ariz. While there, Mr. Robb was a member of the Arizona City Golf and Country Club and Southern Baptist Church as well as volunteering at the Pinal County Visitors Center. In December 2003, Mr. Robb suffered a severe stroke. Two years later, the Robbs moved to Durango to be close to their daughter. Mr. Robb stayed active at Four Corners and played cards every Thursday night. He was a member of the Durango First Southern Baptist Church.

Mr. Robb is survived by his wife of 68 years, Florence (Brenneman) Robb, of Durango; daughter, Connie Robb, of Durango; several nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins. Cremation has occurred. A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the Four Corners Healthcare Center Activity Room, 2911 Junction St. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of Mercy, 1 Mercado St., Suite 270, Durango, CO 81301; or First Southern Baptist Church, 1715 West Second Ave., Durango, CO 81301. Cards may be sent to Florence Robb at 2911 Junction St., Room 67, Durango, CO 81301.

Durango Herald - Durango, Colorado
March 15, 2011