Bob was born on September 7, 1932, in Glendale, Wisconsin. Bob proudly served his country for 22 years in the United States Army Special Forces Group serving at duty stations including Vietnam, Lebanon, Germany, Okinawa and Fort Bragg. 

 

After retiring from the Army, Bob operated Doberstein Greenhouses and managed Kendale Bowling Lanes for 30 years. He also served as president of Johnsonville PTO and was on the advisory boards for the Johnsonville and Benhaven schools. He was also on the board for the Central Carolina Community College Barber School.

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Bob served his community as a firefighter with Spout Springs Emergency Services where he served as president of the Board of Directors. During his tenure he helped grow the department from a struggling volunteer operation in the 1970s to the financially secure, highly rated department the community knows today. In 2013 the department dedicated their emergency services building to Bob to commemorate his life and works within the community. 

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Bob tirelessly served on many other boards within the community to include more than 10 years on the Harnett County Board of Equalization & Review, nearly 16 years as an alternate on the Harnett County Board of Adjustment and 16 years on the Industrial Facilities/Pollution Control Financing Authority.

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Bob also served on numerous other community organizations to include service as president of the Johnsonville Ruritan Club, as a Johnsonville 4-H Club leader working to organize 4-H clubs in Harnett County. He served as a member of the Western Harnett Lions Club, as a member of the Harnett County Community Foundation, as president of the church council at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sanford and as a member of Sustainable Sandhills. 

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Bob provided for critical nutrition needs in Harnett County by creating the Johnsonville Meals on Wheels program and founding the Buddy Backpack Program for Harnett County in 2008 along with his wife Carrie. The program was so successful that it branched out into three additional chapters; Angier, Dunn-Erwin and Western Harnett. 

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For his years of selfless and dedicated service, Bob was awarded the Cape Fear District Ruritan of the Year in 2009 and the Governor's Award in 2010. 

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Bob passed away in his home in Cameron, NC February 8, 2018. 

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