Robert A. "Bob" Grabbe

KEWANEE - Robert A. “Bob” Grabbe, 53, of Kewanee, died at 8:30 a.m., Friday, November 13, 2015 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 18 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Tony Allen will officiate. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 17 at the funeral home. Cremation will be accorded following the services and private inurnment will be held at Pleasant View Cemetery in Kewanee at a later date. The family requests that in lieu of flowers that memorials may be directed to the Robert Grabbe Memorial Fund which will be used for various donations in Bob’s name to area charities.

He was born December 13, 1961 in Kewanee, the son of John and Jeanie (Perry) Grabbe. He married his high school sweetheart, Penney Larson and they had been married for 33 years. Everyday was an adventure but as a kind, caring and loving husband, they found much happiness together doing things like going to movies and traveling. In addition to his wife Penney, he is  survived by a sister, Carol (David) Orwig and their son, John of Galesburg, a sister-in-law, Pam (R.J.) Hampton of Daytona Beach, FL,  brother-in-laws, Dave (Laura) Larson of Marquette Heights, IL, Terry (Sony) Larson of El Paso, IL, Michael (Donna) Larson of Bloomington, IL and Paul Hood of Kewanee, several nieces and nephews which include Jeff (Lisa) Hampton, Kevin (Brandy) Hampton, Liz (Nathan) Larson, Eric, Tom, Harold, Jerimiah, Hannah Larson, Lesa Hampton, Joshua and Danny Larson, Andrea (Robert) Brown, Sheila Vaughn,  Bryan and Bradley Hampton, a special aunt, Georgia Grabbe, a cousin whom he considered as a brother,  Bill (Cheri) Grabbe and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother John, a nephew Jesse, a brother-in-law, Dennis, a sister-in-law Patti Hood and Dachshunds, Scooter and Luke.

Bob graduated from Kewanee High School in 1980 where he was active in the Sea Explorers. He then attended Illinois State University where he graduated in 1989 with a BS Degree in Education. He also  earned his Masters Degree from WIU in School Administration. He had taught in the Kewanee School District for 20 years which included 8 years in administration as principal at Lyle School. He was currently the Special Education Coordinator for the Henry-Stark Special Education District. Bob enjoyed coaching and over the years had been a basketball and baseball coach at Kewanee High School, a basketball coach at Wethersfield High School, a YMCA Swim Coach and a Kewanee Park District softball coach for the 9-10 year old program. He was also the volleyball coach at Kewanee High School for 19 years and for the last 15 years was the volleyball coach at Black Hawk East. His encouragement to his volleyball players was “You’re athletes, but students first!” He had also served in the National Guard for 13 years and was a volunteer for the Special Olympics and had served as a member of the Council for Exceptional Children. Bob was an avid supporter of the Kewanee Animal Shelter where he shared his love of animals and would help stray or abandoned animals. He was especially fond of his dogs, Pepper and Spike.  In addition to his coaching, he enjoyed sports, boating, traveling, teaching, being active in the school and community and his family and friends. He was also a Chicago Cubs and Bears Fan.

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