Robert E. Tiemann

1936 - 2016

Robert E. Tiemann obituary, 1936-2016, Odessa, TX

Robert E. Tiemann

1936 - 2016

Robert Tiemann Obituary

Visit the Legacy Remembers website to view the full obituary.
December 29, 2016
Robert E. Tiemann, 81, died December 29, 2016, in Odessa, Texas, surrounded by his wife of 40 years Annabelle, his son Michael, and his dear friends Alan and Amie Tennant. He had been enjoying his Fort Davis home when he took ill.

A gifted teacher, Bob spent 35 years at Trinity University in San Antonio teaching both studio art and art history. At different times throughout his career, he also taught at the University of Texas in San Antonio, Harvard University, Alamo Heights High School, Texas Lutheran University, San Antonio School of Art, and Melbourne High School in Florida.

A professional artist all his life, Bob's works can be found in the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, NY; the City Collection in Los Angeles; the Dhont Dhanens Museum in Deurle, Belgium; the El Paso Museum of Art in El Paso, TX; the Museo Cantonale d'Arte in Lugano, Switzerland; the Panza di Biumo Collection in Varese, Italy; the San Antonio Museum of Art; the University of Texas in Austin; the AT&T Collection in San Antonio; the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, TX; the Donald Judd Foundation in NYC; etc. He was especially proud of being in the Chinati Foundation's inaugural exhibition in Marfa in 1987.

Bob was born and raised in Austin, TX; graduated from UT; and went on to get his Masters in Fine Arts at the University of Southern California. Although his primary residence was in San Antonio, he fell in love with the Fort Davis area and eventually built a home there, spending more and more time in the Davis Mountains after he retired.

Special thanks to Fort Davis EMS volunteers Darrin, Mike, and Andrea; the Big Bend Regional Hospital emergency department; Dr. John Ray; all the wonderful doctors and nurses who treated Bob in emergency, in CCU, and in Hospice at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa; and the MCH Friendship Home in Odessa.

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January 15, 2017

Courtney Stevenson posted to the memorial.

January 6, 2017

Craig Pattie posted to the memorial.

January 2, 2017

Anne Alexander posted to the memorial.

Courtney Stevenson

January 15, 2017

I am in the NYC area now and was just exchanging an email with an artist about how while at Trinity, Tiemann made so much possible with the Marfa opening that only later in life, I learned to appreciate. He trekked all of us out to West Texas to clean windows, wander the desert, and sit around a picnic table with Judd so we could be exposed. I was so young then that I had no idea how much he was giving. He was not just an artist and teacher but he was that risky guy who just made things happen when he saw or felt something should be done and, as a teacher myself, I now see this as brave, open and wonderful. Marfa, West Texas, and men in kilts playing bagpipe music down a gravel pathway were just a few of the many shifts in perspective he created. I still remember the smaller life comments, insightful and blunt, that I still refer to now.

Courtney Stevenson

Craig Pattie

January 6, 2017

My most heartfelt condolences. I really cherished Bob's lectures on abstract expressionism as a student at Trinity in the '70's. So funny, so direct. I loved his wit.

Anne Alexander

January 2, 2017

Annabelle, my thoughts are with you. He will be missed by many.
chin up and get back to the gym!
Anne Alexander

Mary-Ellen Rhatigan

January 1, 2017

Please accept my sympathy for the death of your husband. I remember your sharing stories about him when we worked together at Roosevelt Elementary. He was quite a guy and you had a remarkable partnership.

Kathryn Deiss

January 1, 2017

First of all, my condolences to Annabelle and Michael and all of Tiemann's close friends. I am so sorry the earth has lost such a wonderful, provocative artist and teacher. He was on my mind in the past week for some reason. He was my wonderful teacher at Trinity. Always pushing me to come to my own conclusions and to find my own way and encouraging me and all of us to keep creating and looking at art. I am grateful for having learned from him.

Donna Davis

January 1, 2017

So sorry to hear of Bob's passing. He was a great friend to Rene' and I. Many years of friendship. We both had a love for ART - which is how we connected in the first place. He was soooo funny and smart. He loved reading and we would talk all the time about what Life holds for ALL of us. We will miss this sweet man. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Annabelle. We are hear for you. Much love, Donna Davis & Rene' Zuehl

John Navarro

January 1, 2017

So very sorry to learn of Bob's passing. He was a great guy and teacher as his former students will attest. While a student at Trinity around 1970 I recall taking one of his exhibitions to both Texas Tech and then on to Carlsbad, N.M. That was quite a trip back then. His passing is a great loss to me and my family and we will miss him so very much.

Cathy & Tom Hudgins

January 1, 2017

Bob Tiemann was such a great teacher! I met my husband of 45 years in one of the classes I was privileged to take with him at Trinity. He made art accessible and exciting to so many of us over the years. Thank you!

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1040 S. Dixie Blvd., Odessa, TX 79761

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Sign Robert Tiemann's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

January 15, 2017

Courtney Stevenson posted to the memorial.

January 6, 2017

Craig Pattie posted to the memorial.

January 2, 2017

Anne Alexander posted to the memorial.