Robert Day

1935 - 2015

Robert H. Day, Jr.

Robert H. Day, Jr. died at his home in Yerington, Nevada, on September 26, 2015, surrounded by his family and listening to classic country music. He was 79. Bob was born December 19, 1935, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to Robert H. Day, Sr., and Caroline Stott Day. He grew up in Albert Lea, and later moved with his mother to the Stott family home in St. Paul, Minnesota, while his father fought in World War II. The family later relocated to Phoenix, Arizona in the 1950's - where he completed his education, graduating from North Phoenix High School in 1954. During his time in Phoenix, he joined a country western band with friends, and they played small clubs in and around the area. Bob met the former Julie Sloan in 1958, and they married in Phoenix in 1959. Playing music with the band led to gigs in the Reno/Sparks area in the early 1960's, and Bob and Julie moved to Sparks in 1962. Daughter Kelli made her arrival in December of 1964. The family would remain in Reno until 1982, when their involvement with breeding and showing American Quarter Horses led them to choose a small ranch in Yerington as their new home. To say that Bob had a passion for country music and the radio business would be to understate the reality. He began working at KBUB as a disc jockey in the late 1960's, and continued there until an opportunity arose for him to work for the legendary Bob Stoddard at KBET radio in the 1970's - again, as a disk jockey. That position morphed into the purchase of the station, along with lifelong friend Paul Adams, in the late 1970's. This enabled him to meet and work with some of the top entertainers in country music during that era. Bob, Julie, and Paul owned and operated KBET until 1981 - when the station was sold and the partners left the radio business. After moving to Yerington, he decided semi-retirement wasn't for him and he began a short stint as a school bus driver for the Lyon County School district, and then formed CSD Trucking, Inc., in the late 1980's. In the mid 1990's he and Julie bought a large parcel of land in Yerington and developed the Greenfield Mobile Home & RV Park, and mini mall. After selling both those businesses, he enjoyed working as a driver for disadvantaged youth at Rite of Passage. Finally, his 2007 diagnosis with Parkinson's Disease forced Bob into full retirement. A love of horses was a part of Bob's early life, and he passed this love onto his daughter Kelli. For many years Bob held a judge's card for the American Horse Show Association, and was a member and Past President of both the Nevada State Horsemen's Association, and the Nevada Quarter Horse Association. He also was active in the Reno Rodeo Association during the 1970's.

Bob is survived by his wife Julie, daughter Kelli Day-Boger (Jack), step grandchildren Jack Boger, Jr. (Cassandra), and Matthew Boger (Tabitha), and three great grandchildren. Further, we would be remiss to not mention the wonderful caregivers who provided a loving environment to Bob during the past year - Dover & Sara Lovelace, Penny Hone, and Susan Brown.

Bob's Celebration of Life service will be 2:00 pm, Sunday, October 25, 2014 at the Pioneer Crossing Conference Center in Yerington. Bob's cremains will be inurned in the Stott family mausoleum at the Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota. Family and friends are invited to sign his online guest book at www.FRFH.net Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home, 25 Hwy 208 Yerington, Nevada 89447 (775)463-2911

For those wishing to honor Bob's life, the family asks that donations be made in Bob's name to the National Parkinson's Foundation (www.parkinson.org).