Bob Sundermeier passed away on November 14, 2021, in Grand Junction at the age of 85. Surviving Bob are his wife Tonette McLeod of Grand Junction and her daughter Candace Jay; his children Robynn Sundermeier (Dave Parsons) of Palisade, CO; Tony (Natalie) Sundermeier of Fort Collins, CO; and Sheri Cogley (Chris) of Fruita, CO. He is also survived by grandchildren Taylor and Nate Sundermeier of Denver, CO, Kien and Dillon Cogley of Grand Junction, CO and Quinn Parsons (Ashley Eaves) of Austin, Texas, great grandson’s Buckshot Parsons and great granddaughter, Eily Pearl Parsons. His sister Dianne (Richard) Simpson of Las Cruces, NM, and many cousins and friends.
Bob, a proud Nebraska Cornhusker, was born on June 12, 1936, in Grand Island, Nebraska, the son of Harry and Floyce (Judevine) Sundermeier. Bob graduated in 1954 from Alliance High School in Alliance, Nebraska where he played varsity football (fullback #12), sang in Madrigals, show choir, men’s quartet and performed in multiple musicals where he was named “Showman of the Year”. He was also a great soloist, remembered by his classmates as a great athlete and singer, but mostly as a swell guy.
Bob, after turning down music scholarships to the Universities of Wyoming and Nebraska, Bob enlisted in the US Navy where he was assigned to the Pacific fleet, as a sonarman, serving aboard the USS Ingersoll and the USS Vammen. After mustering out, Bob received his Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University and his Master of Science degree from Southern Illinois University. His career was focused on driver education and traffic safety, serving at the National Safety Council, as the Colorado State Director of Drivers Education and Traffic Safety, the National President of ADTSEA in 1996, and as a high school teacher, coach, and director of the Mesa County driver education program, retiring with over 30 years in education.
An accomplished hunter, Bob’s first love was trap shooting. Bob was an all-American Trap shooter, many times over a Colorado State Trap Shooting Champion, and an alternate on the US Olympic Trap Team, once shooting 2300 targets straight without a miss.
Bob was a proud son, brother, father, grandfather, husband and told great stories about his family. Bob was proud of his wife, Toni McLeod, and the love and care they shared over the past 9 years.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gary Sundermeier. A service will be held at Veterans Cemetery in Grand Junction in late spring, followed by a celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Movember Foundation at www.us.movember.com or by writing a remembrance of Bob on this website: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/grand-junction-co/bob-sundermeier-10448456