Obituary of Robert R. Arnbrecht

Robert R. Arnbrecht (Bob), 91, the third of three sons was born to Ralph and Lydia (Sitzman) Arnbrecht on October 29, 1932 on his maternal grandparent’s farm south of Kersey, CO.  Bob moved with his parents and older brother Lee to the family farm in 1936 and lived on the farm for 81 years.  Bob rode his horse across the field every day to LaGrange Country School.  He also attended Meeker Junior High School, and graduated from Greeley High School in 1950.

At the country school Bob attended he played softball because that’s the only ball they had, no football, no basketball.  Bob played tens of thousands of games of softball in the Greeley City League as a youth and young man. 

Bob was drafted into the Army in 1953 during the Korean War.  He was in I Company 20^th Infantry Regiment-6^th Infantry Division for basic training at Fort Ord CA.  He was assigned to H Company for Heavy Weapons training followed by Leadership Training School at Fort Ord where he was classified as a sharp shooter.  When they discovered he was an excellent typist he was assigned to Fort Benning, GA to the Adjutant General’s Office in the Personnel Division working with Congressional Inquiries for the duration of his service.  You can see that typewriter on the memento table with an actual letter addressed to the Adjutant General.  Please don’t touch or type on said typewriter!  He attended Agricultural School under the GI Bill for 2 years upon completion of active duty.

Bob was a lifetime crop and dairy farmer setting records for milk and butterfat production.  He was a member of the Colorado Holstein Association Board of Directors.  He also donated Holstein calves to the CSU Dairy Dept. in Ft. Collins, CO.

Bob began bowling at a young age and it soon became his passion.  He was a Hall of Fame bowler in the city of Greeley as well as the state of CO.  He was called Bobbie by his bowling friends and was known for his kindness and sportsmanship.  The scratch league at Highland Park Lanes gave an award in his name to deserving bowlers at the end of each season.  Bob bowled many sanctioned and unsanctioned 300 games plus some 800 series.  He took many teams to the American Bowling Congress in a variety of cities and states.  He especially enjoyed bowling with his friend Ed Dienes, owner of Highland Park Lanes in Greeley. 

Bob was a lifelong member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Greeley, CO.  He was a junior member of the church counsel and president of the Luther League.  He was vice president of the Rocky Mountain Association of Luther League.

Bob met his future wife, Noreen Gavette, on a blind date in 1975.  They married on June 6^th, 1980 at the First United Methodist Church in Ft. Collins, CO.  Bob is survived by his wife Noreen, 2 sons Michael (Adele) of CO and James (Amy) of PA, also stepdaughter Kim Gavette Brenckle of CO and stepson Brion Gavette (Saneta) of CO.  Bob and Noreen have 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.  Bob is preceded in death by his parents, brother Lee, and infant brother Ralph Jr. and his stepdaughter April Gavette Stumbaugh (Russ) of CO and stepson Jack Peter Brenckle, Jr. of CO.

Bob was a very kind, patient and honest man and a devoted husband to Noreen.  They enjoyed their trips to Hawaii and many road trips that included Estes Park, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota.  They also enjoyed being historians for the Greeley High School class of 1950.  This entailed planning reunions and detailing the current status of all classmates through the 60^th reunion.

A celebration of life will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 2 p.m. located at 1800 21^st Avenue in Greeley, CO.  The service will be officiated by Pastor John Knutson.  Arrangements are being handled by Adamsons Funeral Home in Greeley, CO.  A private family service will be held at Linn Grove Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers a memorial gift made in Bob’s name can be made to the Junior Bowling League of Highland Park Lanes, attention Tiffanie Becher, or the Dairy Dept. at CSU in Ft. Collins, CO.