Ronald Ned Robbe

Ronald Ned Robbe, 81, formerly of Elizabeth, IL passed away at his home in Evart, MI on October 10, 2024. He was passed into God's care with family at his side.
Ron was born in Savanna, Illinois, on November 19, 1942, to Ned and Myrtle (Beck) Robbe. In the halls of Elizabeth High School, he met the love of his life, Norma Jean Diehl, and they married on August 5, 1961, in Galena, IL. Their union was blessed with six children. Together they resided in Savanna, Elizabeth, and Hanover, IL; Watertown, NY; and finally in Evart, MI. Everywhere they resided, friends and memories were made in abundance.
Growing up on the farm instilled in Ron a variety of skills that carried him well throughout life. He was the McGuyver "fix-it" man of the family. The Chev-Ford was proof of that. Throughout his life, Ron earned a living in a variety of ways. He was a milk hauler and cheesemaker; he worked for the telephone company and on the railroad; he worked in the construction trades; as a farmer; and for a while, he traveled across the country driving OTR for Transport America with Norma as his co-pilot. He loved his job at WalMart and was disappointed that COVID and health reasons required him to retire. And even in retirement, Ron kept busy volunteering as a driver for the Commission on Aging.
Favorite family-time memories are: drive-in movies in Clinton, cramming the kids and garbage bags of popcorn in the station wagon; afternoons spent swimming in the creek; and holiday meals with extended family at the farm.
Ron coached baseball when his sons were young and enjoyed cheering on his children and grandchildren at their sporting events. Ron was an avid bowler, hunter, and fisherman. He hunted for morels and ginseng in the Spring. While farming Ron would always take his lunch break and watch his favorite Soap Opera "Days of Our Lives." He was an avid reader of anything from James Patterson to Norma's romance novels. He ate three fried eggs every day for breakfast and had popcorn almost every night before bed. He loved Jack's Burgers, Manny's Pizza, and dining at Rastrelli's in Clinton, IA. He had a sweet tooth for horehound candy, butterscotch Schnapps, and PBR. He loved a good game of Euchre but was a sore loser, often throwing the cards; evident when we found cards on top of the curtains when we moved! In later years he enjoyed watching the deer, birds, and other wildlife in their yard. If you were to stop by the house you would often find him watching Fox News, his Chicago Sports teams - the Cubs and the Bears, or working on a jigsaw puzzle with Norma.
Left to treasure the memories of Ron are his beloved wife of 63 years, Norma, of Evart, MI; five children: Wayne (Bonnie) Robbe of Watertown, NY, Todd (Lisa) Robbe of Rochester, IN, Tereasa (Jeff) Nadig of Evart, MI, Wanda (Jim) Honerbaum of Hanover, IL and Monica Gilmore of Hanover, IL; 18 grandchildren: Wayne Robbe Jr., Daniel (Sara) Robbe, Lynne (Waylon) Jaeger, Tracy (Patrick) Lydick, Justin (Sarah Rubio) Hamilton, Kelsey (Ken) Gamble, Elizabeth (Brian Herrman) Doss, Zach Doss, Michael Robbe, Lacee (Roger) Aris, Layne (Julia Burd) Nadig, June Langworthy, Mark (Stephany) Honerbaum, Scott (Christine) Honerbaum, Brian (Iris Nguyen) Honerbaum, Ian Gilmore, Collin Gilmore and Stephanie (Mitchell) Stocks; 18 great-grandchildren, Megan and Kayla Scully, Carissa Hinderman, Allie Jaeger, Nevaeh and Lanie Lydick, Gia Ganos, Haylen and Ryela Aris, Matthew and Benjamin Langworthy, Kellen, Paislee, Orion and Everly Honerbaum, Breynna McGuire and Hudson Stocks, who has a baby sister on the way; beloved cat, Simba; many in-laws, extended family and close friends.
Ron was preceded in death by: his parents, Ned and Myrtle; infant daughter, Marsha Anne; and great-grandson, Brooks Robert Stocks.
Visitation will be on October 19, 2024, from 12:00-1:00 pm at the Evart Free Methodist Church with services at 1:00 pm. Pastor Mark Bullock will be officiating. Memorial contributions can be made directly to Ron's family or given in his memory to the Osceola County Commission on Aging. A celebration of life for family and friends will be held on December 21, 2024, from 4:00 - 8:00 pm at Manny's Pizza in Savanna, IL. You may pay your respects online at the Corey Funeral Home website: www.coreyfuneralhome.com