Robert Clayton Grabher passed away April 4, 2024 at the age of 89 years. Bob was born Sept 19, 1934 to Otho C. and Elizabeth K. (Keiser) Grabher in Alliance, Nebraska. He attended school in Alliance and graduated from Alliance High School in 1953. He attended college in Boulder, Colorado and Kearney, Nebraska where he received his teaching degree.
He was in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1957 to 1963 and was very proud of his service. He received the Dress Blue Uniform as outstanding graduate recruit in the battalion and was selected as Honor Man of his platoon also received Rifle Expert status and was promoted to the rank of Private First Class.
He married Betty McGinley Dec 27, 1958, to this union 3 children were born, Gerald, Mike and Cyd Marie and he adopted her daughter Aileen.
In March of 1974 he married Janet (Anderson) Churchill and was “Dad” to Dean, Dick, Don and Dan. In May of 1974 they moved to the ranch where Janet grew up, south of Valentine, Nebraska. In 1982 they purchased 236 head of registered Charolais females from the LW Gardiner dispersal in Richmond, Utah. The first Rocking Arrow Charolais bull sale was held in 1984 and continued for 37 years. In 1994 Rocking Arrow Charolais held their first female sale at the ranch and continued for several years.
Always active in Charolais activities, Bob was president of the Nebraska Charolais Association in the 1990s. He was also a member of the AICA Show Committee, attending meetings in Kansas City, Houston, Denver and Louisville. Bob and Janet hosted various Charolais events including The Nebraska Charolais Association Field Day in 1987, contributed to the Charolais Beef Gift Boxes in 1990, sponsored the Iowa Cattlemen’s Tour in 1992 and won the Sandhills Select Pen Show in 1993. Over the years they hosted foreign cattleman including groups from Australia and Brazil.
With the purchase of Mr. Inland Expediter 501 came a legacy of Grand Champions. In 1993 artist Galen Struve painted a water color picture of Expediter which was auctioned off in Kansas City for the National Ambassador Program. Rocking Arrow Charolais was honored to received plaques for three AICA Roll of Excellence Sires, Expediter, RAC Goosecreek 3043 PLD and KC Stolichnaya HO16P ET. With the 1998 Nebraska State Fair Grand Champion Female, Rocking Arrow cattle excelled in the show ring including Denver Grand and Reserve Carloads, Pens of Bulls and four National Champion or Reserve Cow-calf Pairs. The 41st National Show at Denver, Colorado was dedicated to Rocking Arrow Charolais.
Bob was an avid lifetime supporter of Husker Football and attended games on a regular basis. As a child listening to the radio he became a huge fan of the Greenbay Packers. He and Janet were able to attend a Packer game in Wisconsin. They were fortunate to do a lot of traveling to almost every state in the USA. Alaska and Canada, up and down the full East and West Coasts, Washington DC, Gettysburg, Nashville, Memphis and Vicksburg, Grand Canyon, Tetons, Yellowstone and the Black Hills, balloon festivals in Albuquerque, the National Cemetery in Vicksburg and Andersonville and lots in between.
Family was very important to Bob and Janet; they spent a lot of time attending grandkids activities and hosted many family get togethers at the ranch. Bob and Janet have 4 sons, Dean (Cindy) Churchill on the ranch Valentine NE, Dick (Mary) Churchill Phoenix, Arizona, Don (Melissa) Churchill De Smet, South Dakota, Daniel (Jennifer) Churchill Ft. Collins, Colorado. Bob has 22 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife Janet, his mother Elizabeth, his father Otho and daughter Aileen.
Funeral service for Robert “Bob” Grabher, age 89 of Valentine, will be held on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 2:00 PM at the Berean Bible Church in Valentine, NE. A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 11, starting at 2:00 PM at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine. Mr. Grabher passed away on April 4, 2024, at the Community Health Center in Burwell, NE.
Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine, Ne was entrusted with service arrangements.