Tom Westhusing
I knew Papa Bob as a â??happy go luckyâ? man who was always friendly, gentle, and kind. I canâ??t recall even one time when I ever saw him angry, or mad, or rough with anyone.His relationship with my mother (Gramma Tulsa) began at about the same time that my daughter was born and so she grew up, spending virtually every Christmas at their house. Gramma Tulsa and Papa Bob kept Christmas well. It was always a joy to be around them during the holiday season and doing so had a way of making us adults feel young again and was simply magical for their grand kids.My daughter and I also spent many a summer with them up at the lake house on the Elk River at Grand Lake. It was there that Papa Bob invented the â??Vicky Rollâ?, which was my daughterâ??s pronunciationof the â??Victory Rollâ?, a long sweeping circle that Papa Bob made with the fishing boat before heading into the dock. Papa Bob would do a Vicky Roll, regardless as to whether we had caught fish or not (very seldom, for Papa Bob was a good fisherman). I think for him it was an expression of â??joie de vivreâ? at the prospect of some relaxation time on the deck, a good meal, and perhaps a nap. The Vicky Roll was Papa Bobâ??s way of saying â??I am home and glad to be there!â?I knew Papa Bob best as my fishing partner. Together we explored the origins of the Elk river, way up in Missouri (real â??Deliveranceâ? country), all the way down to Number 10 Bridge on Grand Lake. We caught a lot of fish between those two points, a lot of fish. Just beyond Number 10 Bridge was a floating convenience store where we would gas up and each of us buy a treat.Papa Bob loved treats. I loved seeing Papa Bob enjoying his treat as he was in heaven when eating one. I donâ??t think Gramma Tulsa ever knew what a poor impediment I was to Papa Bob getting his treat!We love and will miss you Papa Bob, as you have taken that last journey home. I donâ??t doubt that, as the end of that journey approached, you did one last Vicky Roll! Godspeed Papa Bob.With Love, Tom Westhusing