Bob Zellner

June 13, 1919 - September 9, 2014

BOB ZELLNER Bob Zellner died at 2:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at Evergreen Nursing and Rehabilitation in Olympia after receiving comfort care for four days. He was peaceful and comfortable in his last days. Bob loved his neighbors and his home on the water on East Bay Drive. He wanted to stay in his home and, with the help of friends and caregivers, he did. Bob and was born in Newark, NJ on June 13, 1919 to Albert and Frances Shore Zellner. His parents both lived to be 92. His siblings, Jean and Gordon are 91 and 85 respectively. Longevity is a family trait. Bob's father emigrated from Limanova, Austria, now Poland. Bob's father was from a family of 13 German-speaking Jews. Abraham changed his given name to Albert after arriving in America, leaving behind his Jewish heritage. Albert was successful in the retail meat business. Bob worked with him as a young man before WWII and told people that he learned to pick a good cut from his father. In his 80's, Bob found out about his heritage, and was deeply moved, but remained a committed Anglican. He was a steady and loyal parishioner at St. James Anglican Church in Lacey. Bob's mother was a nurse, as was his Aunt Lois Hyme, and his sister, Jean. Bob was proud of this and in his later years he told all his doctors and nurses, again and again, that he came from a family of nurses and he understood medicine from that perpective. Growing up, Bob loved outdoor life. He roamed the woods, was a boy scout, hunted and skied. As a boy, he loved dogs and showed Beagles in conformation events and ran them in field trials. In his last 13 years, he owned, trained, and hunted with a Small Munsterlaner, a versitile hunting dog, Reilly, his companion until the end. As for skiing, Bob was serious enough to break his leg in 1936 at Tuckerman's Ravine, a famous (and to this day) extreme ski area. Bob said on many occasions with some chagrin that he skied his way out of the University of Vermont before the War. Bob enlisted in the Army before the draft. He served in North Africa and Italy, mainly as a radio operator with artillery units. He received several commendations and mustered out in 1945 as a PFC. He achieved this rank, he said, because he often let the brass know what he thought of some of their decisions. After the Army, Bob attended the University of Maine on the GI Bill. His brother, Gordon, was also at the Univeristy at that time and both were Sigma Chi. In 1949, Bob graduated with a degree in forestry. He then took his degree and love of the industry to Potlatch, in Lewiston, ID. He described himself as a forester and was proud of his work in reforestation and timber cruising. After his career at Potlatch, Bob moved to Olympia where he worked as a forestry consultant and other small business ventures. He ended his business career selling insurance and mutual funds with many of his clients remembering him to this day. Most significant for the move to the Northwest, Bob met his wife, Ruby Reeves, at the St. Helens Cafe in Chehalis. Bob and Ruby were married for 32 years, until her death. Bob said of his marriage, "I was happy for 32 years", a part of his life was gone and he could not fill it. Bob was a life member of the NRA; a member of Thurston County Republican Party, and they voted him Republican of the Year in 1993; the Evergreen Gun Club; the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association. He was conservative to the core - Fox News and The Wall Street Journal. Despite his conservative views, Bob would support the best man or policy if that was what was needed. He lobbied hard and successfully in support of the appointment of Curt Smitch, a Democrat, to become the head of Department of Fish and Wildlife. Bob was a diligent and careful investor, carefully and successfully managing his affairs until his last few months. Neighbors will recall Bob walking his dog and later riding his tricycle on the sidewalk with his Munsterlaner. Just a few weeks ago, at his last visit to the Evergreen Gun Club, Bob broke 23 out of 25 in 5-stand. For age 95, we would all agree this was pretty remarkable. The Zellner family expresses its sincere gratitude for the care Bob received in his last year: St. Peters Hospital, Olympia Fire Department, (whose paramedics got to know him AND his dog), Allison Meyer, ARNP, Dr. John Kooiker, Dr. Quang Li, Dr. Curtis Reinke, Linda Graveline, and the caregivers from Sound Options. The family will hold a private burial after which they invite friends, neighbors, fellow Republicans, Democtrats who can stand it, fellow parishioners to a celebration of life at Mercato's Wine Room, 111 Market St NE, Olympia 98501, at 4:00 p.m., September 19, 2014, for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Bob said he wanted a "hell" of a party. Let's give it a try.