Robert Kummer
Robert “Bob” James Kummer, 77, of White Salmon, Wash., passed away May 30 in his sleep.
Born in Scottsbluff, Neb., he was the sixth of nine children born to Henry and Pauline.
He graduated from Lyman High School in Nebraska in 1964 and joined the National Guard soon after.
He and Mary followed his older siblings to Washington state as newlyweds when he took a job with Simplot Soil Builders and became the youngest manager for Simplot at that time. He started farming near Othello, Wash., on his own in 1974. He was proud of his award-winning potatoes and even made the cover of “Washington Farmer-Stockman Magazine.” After retiring from farming in the mid-1990s, he and Mary moved to White Salmon, Wash., in 2002. He still made frequent visits back to the farm to check on it … and also to catch up with neighbors, friends, and family.
He loved golfing with his wife Mary, his son Dean, brothers and friends, traveling, spending time with his kids and granddaughter, going to Hawaii every year, and telling stories. Bob enjoyed driving and showing off his 1962 Chevrolet Impala Supersport “Goldie” with Mary.
Bob also loved helping and taking care of people and spent a lot of time shoveling snow for neighbors, running errands, helping with their yard work and chatting up strangers anywhere he went. He always had a way of making people feel comfortable and smile.
He was known for fixing anything and everything, usually with “duct tape, baling wire and WD-40."
Bob is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary; son Dean and his wife, Becky; daughter Kristy and her husband, Dan; and his only and favorite granddaughter, Sonya. He is also survived by siblings: Clarence (Norma), Fred (Rose), Henrietta, Mary and David (Robin), along with many nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mom and dad, twin sisters Sharon and Karen, and brother William.
A celebration of life will be held Aug. 17 (time TBD) at Valley Christian Church in Hood River, Oregon. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to Tunnel to Towers Foundation (https://t2t.org/), Wounded Warrior Project (https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org), or a charity of your choice.
