Robert Harold MORROW

MORROW, BAKER, KETTERAN, NUSSBAUM, ROSENKOETTER, ELLIOTT, HILL, PHELPS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/19/2011 at 16:31:26

June 21, 1939 --- July 11, 2011

PRINCETON, IL — Robert Harold Morrow of Princeton died at home on Monday, July 11, 2011. He was born June 21, 1939, in Clarion , Iowa , to Arthur Raymond Morrow, a farmer, and Mary Baker Morrow, a schoolteacher. Bob began driving — and fixing — farm equipment as a child, had his own car at age 12, bought his first Harley at 16, and could drive anything with wheels. He attended a one-room school for eight years, then went to "town" for high school. A Vietnam-era Army veteran, he was a photographer for the Stars and Stripes. On his discharge from the Army, Bob moved to Springfield, Mo. Except for a few years in Louisiana and Mississippi, Bob lived in Missouri until 1991, when he and his family settled in Princeton. Bob's many skills and his sensitivity to other people made him successful at a variety of careers ranging from car salesman to college teacher. In Missouri he was for seven years a television news photographer. He returned to college in his 40s, earning his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in communications. When he taught at Southwest Missouri State University, he excelled at bringing out the best in each student. He was for a time a successful Mercedes-Benz salesman. For several years he was foreman of a 1,200-acre ranch raising Arabian horses and Santa Gertrudis cattle.

In Illinois, Bob was a long-time reporter for the Peoria Journal Star, covering Bureau, LaSalle and Christian counties. He took pride in making his articles both accurate and interesting. He published numerous children's stories and poems in magazines and authored several children's books. In semi-retirement he taught for the Institute of Children's Literature and sold Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Ottawa. Bob loved music and theater. He was first-chair trumpet in high school, played piano for a traveling dance band while in college, and played guitar almost every day. His mellow bass voice made him a favorite church soloist. He had over 40 years experience on stage, including several roles with the Springfield Regional Opera in Missouri. Bureau Countians may remember him as Elwood P. Dowd in Act IV's production of "Harvey" and as a father in "The Fantasticks" at the Prairie Arts Center.

Bob was a faith-filled member of the Episcopal Church U.S.A. and a life member of the covenant community Worker Brothers of the Holy Spirit. When Princeton lost its Episcopal church, he found a spiritual home at New Hope Church of the Nazarene.

He is survived by his wife Paula, whom he married at Thanksgiving in 1981; children Mark (Amy) Ketteran of Maryland, Karen (Erik) Nussbaum of Chicago, Kent Rosenkoetter of Seattle, Lynette (Daniel) Elliott of Dallas, Melinda (Trent Hill) Morrow of Seattle and Andy (Kim) Morrow of Mansfield, Texas; grandchildren Mara Singer Ketteran, Ellie Merisi Ketteran and Samuel Morrow; and sister, Mary Lou (late Jim) Phelps of Springfield, Mo. He was preceded in death by his brother, Victor.

A celebration of Bob's life will be held Saturday at the New Hope Church of the Nazarene, 30 N. Sixth St., Princeton, with lunch and fellowship beginning at 11 a.m. followed by a time of remembrance at noon. Bikers welcome to ride in!

Bureau County Republican --Princeton, IL
July 18, 2011