Robert (Bob) Oliver Bair of Blair, Neb., passed away Thursday, June 20, 2024, at Crowell Memorial Home in Blair at the age of 73 after battling multiple myeloma. He stayed his normal witty self to the very end, making his family laugh through their tears in his final days just like he had throughout his life.
Bob was born July 25, 1950, to Deloma Irene (Gilmore) and Lloyd (Cub) Oliver Bair in Logan, Iowa. He graduated from West Harrison in 1968 and from Dana College in 1972 where he was active in choir and drama. He loved to remind his family that he was a Danish Dancer during college, but his family never believed him because he flat out refused to dance again from those days on. Bob married Lynetta Sue Erixon on Aug. 30, 1975; she was his perfect counterpart, often referred to as “Saint Lyn” for putting up with all of his shenanigans. He had the best sense of humor and wasn’t afraid to dish it out.
While at Dana, he began working as a custodian and bus driver for Blair Community Schools. After graduating, he was hired as an English teacher for Blair High School where he remained for 41 years before retiring in 2014. He influenced many young adults throughout his career, and terrified more than a few with his over-the-top reprimands during practical jokes about his fictional brother the ballerina. He kept in contact with many of his students long after they had graduated; his students and coworkers often referred to him as one of the kindest souls who served as a role model for many. Bob was an active member of journalism education at both the local and national level. He served as Vice President of the national Journalism Education Association for many years where he met many lifelong friends from across the country.
After retiring from teaching, Bob (like many retired teachers) delivered vehicles all over the country for Woodhouse. This was a perfect retirement job for the man who loved nothing better than a long road trip with Celtic music blaring from the speakers as his passengers nodded off to sleep. One of Bob’s favorite hobbies was traveling with family and friends. From camping trips in Colorado where he (according to his wife) lost all the luggage out of the back of the camper to walking his young children across the Mexico border to Tijuana for a little cultural enlightenment, he passed on his love of traveling to his family. He managed to visit all 50 states in his lifetime along with several countries across three different continents. In his later years, one of his biggest joys was passing his love of travel onto his granddaughters, taking Morgan and Bree on as many adventures as possible.
Bob is survived by his dog Copper – and the rest of us: wife Lyn; children Courtney (John) Archer, Kiley (significant other Brian Livengood), and Kevin (Kari) Bair; grandchildren Morgan Archer, Bree Archer, and (coming soon) Caden Robert Bair; sister Connie Waite; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Lloyd (Cub) & Deloma Bair, his sister and brother-in-law Shirley (Bair) and LaVerne Jackson, brother Ronnie Bair, and brother-in-law Charlie Waite.
Bob had planned to attend his own Celebration of Life Saturday, June 22, 2024. The Celebration will continue as planned from 4-9 p.m. at S&S Pumping shop – 369 Industrial Park Dr in Blair. There will be a visitation at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home on Sunday, June 23, from 5-8 p.m. The funeral will be on Monday, June 24, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with a luncheon following at The Blair Marina – 600 Marina Dr. The family will have a private inurnment at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the newly created “Bob Bair Journalism Scholarship” fund, which will be awarded annually to a BHS senior in his honor. You can contribute by going to the website for the foundation at WashCoCommFoundation.org.
Services by Campbell Aman Funeral Home Blair, NE. www.campbellaman.com
