Robert M. Friend
January 7, 1944 — April 6, 2016
Robert “Bob” Max Friend was born on January 7, 1944 to Max and Florence (Luney) Friend in Harlan, Iowa where he was baptized and confirmed at the First United Methodist Church and remained a lifelong member of the Methodist church. He attended Harlan Community Schools, graduating with the Class of 1962.
Bob went to barber school in Des Moines, Iowa and completed his apprenticeship in Bloomfield, Iowa. In 1965, he began working in Avoca and in 1966, he opened his own barber shop “Bob’s Barber Shop”. He was a barber until the early 1970's, when he started driving a truck for CRST in Avoca and worked for several different companies over the next few years until becoming a dispatcher for other truck drivers in 1976. He worked as a dispatcher until his stroke in 2006, then worked various jobs until his retirement earlier this year.
Bob helped to create the Jaycee Club in Avoca and was an active member as a businessman. He loved to bowl and was part of different leagues in his younger days. He was also a member of the 500 Club in Council Bluffs with twenty-five years sobriety.
Bob died at his home in Bellevue, Nebraska on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at the age of seventy-two years, two months, and thirty days. He was preceded in death by his father Max, sister Barbara Aitkenhead, brother James Friend, grandparents James G. and Gladys Luney, and Grandmother Frances Plumb Friend.
He is survived by his daughter Dawn Paulsen of Malvern, Iowa; son Duane Friend and his wife Jennifer of Council Bluffs, Iowa; five grandchildren: Danielle and Brooke Paulsen and Alexandria, Addison, and Zackary Friend; two great-granddaughters: Tatum and Avery; mother Jeanne Friend of Harlan, Iowa; sisters Janet and her husband Jim Swensen of Harlan, Iowa and Joanne and her husband Alan Kenkel of Defiance, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.
Bob went to barber school in Des Moines, Iowa and completed his apprenticeship in Bloomfield, Iowa. In 1965, he began working in Avoca and in 1966, he opened his own barber shop “Bob’s Barber Shop”. He was a barber until the early 1970's, when he started driving a truck for CRST in Avoca and worked for several different companies over the next few years until becoming a dispatcher for other truck drivers in 1976. He worked as a dispatcher until his stroke in 2006, then worked various jobs until his retirement earlier this year.
Bob helped to create the Jaycee Club in Avoca and was an active member as a businessman. He loved to bowl and was part of different leagues in his younger days. He was also a member of the 500 Club in Council Bluffs with twenty-five years sobriety.
Bob died at his home in Bellevue, Nebraska on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at the age of seventy-two years, two months, and thirty days. He was preceded in death by his father Max, sister Barbara Aitkenhead, brother James Friend, grandparents James G. and Gladys Luney, and Grandmother Frances Plumb Friend.
He is survived by his daughter Dawn Paulsen of Malvern, Iowa; son Duane Friend and his wife Jennifer of Council Bluffs, Iowa; five grandchildren: Danielle and Brooke Paulsen and Alexandria, Addison, and Zackary Friend; two great-granddaughters: Tatum and Avery; mother Jeanne Friend of Harlan, Iowa; sisters Janet and her husband Jim Swensen of Harlan, Iowa and Joanne and her husband Alan Kenkel of Defiance, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.
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