BOONE, Iowa—Robert “Bob” Warren Pink, Sr., 90, of Boone, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at the Boone County Hospital on October 18, 2022. Bob was born on November 30, 1931, and was adopted by Mildred and Frank Pink of Des Moines, Iowa. While in high school, Bob installed the first TV in Des Moines. He graduated from Des Moines Tech High in 1950, where he met his high school sweetheart Norma Noland.
Bob and Norma were married on January 15, 1951. Bob joined the Air Force and was first stationed at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida with a B29 crew. During the Korean War, he served in Greenland with a rescue crew. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in Dover, Delaware. Following his enlistment, he took a job with RCA in Rapid City, South Dakota, continuing to work as a civilian contractor at Ellsworth Air Force Base, where he taught radar. Also, an interesting highlight was watching for UFOs in the Badlands. While in South Dakota, Bob became a partner with a radio station and owned a communication company that assisted with installing the first sound system at Mount Rushmore. After nine years, the family moved to Fargo, North Dakota, but shortly thereafter moved back to Iowa to be closer to family. Bob settled in Boone and began working for the Iowa DOT. Bob left the DOT after 22 years, and went to work for Iowa State University as the Assistant Director for Telecommunications which he loved. He retired from Iowa State in 1997 but continued to be an avid Cyclone fan and held season tickets for football and basketball.
Bob’s main hobbies were repairing TVs and radios. He had a repair shop out of his garage, assisted at Sounds (the record store in Boone), and worked in the repair shop at Montgomery Ward. His true passion was working with many radio stations throughout the state. The last station he helped put on the air was the Latin World Broadcasting in Des Moines, developing a lasting friendship with Juan Rodriguez and his family.
Bob loved to travel and had an interest in photography. He would make his family sit through his slide shows after every trip. One of his favorite trips was the Freedom Flight to Washington, D.C. During retirement, Bob and Norma wintered in Florida, where they had a home in Bradenton. Bob was member of the First Presbyterian Church in Boone for 60 years, where he was a Deacon and Elder. He was a member of the American Legion and Ham Radio Club. He also loved to go to cardiac rehab for his “hour of hell” over the last 20 years. We could go on and on about Bob’s life as he led an interesting life. He will be missed by many family members and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred (Day) and Frank Pink; his sister, Barbara Adams; nieces, Terry and Kathy; nephew, Jeff Adams; brothers-in-law: Bob Kaufman, Harold Noland, and Johnny Ray Noland. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Norma (Noland) Pink of Boone, IA; daughter, Deb Prouty of Boone, IA; sons: Robert (Wanida) Pink, Jr. of Las Vegas, NV, Don (Betsy) Pink of Clive, IA, and Jim (Dee) Pink of Urbandale, IA; grandchildren: Tina Prouty of Ames, IA, Travis (Julie) Prouty of Boone, IA, and Cathy, Ajay and Alex Pink of Las Vegas, NV; sister-in-law JoAnn Kaufmann of Woodridge, IL; two great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
We would like to thank the countless Doctors and Nurses who have cared for Bob over the years, especially Peg King and the staff at the cardiac rehab. He truly enjoyed and appreciated every one of you.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Frist Presbyterian Church of Boone or the Boone County Hospital Cardiac Rehab Unit.
Online condolences can be left at www.schroederfuneral.com
Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home, 609 7th Street, Boone is assisting the family with these arrangements.
Robert “Bob” Pink, 90, Boone, Iowa
