Robert A. Boens

Robert A. Boens, 85, of Coal Valley, Illinois, died Thursday, June 28, 2018, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf.

Services are 10:00 a.m. Friday at Trimble Funeral Home, Coal Valley. Burial is in Rural Township Cemetery. Visitation is 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday. Memorials may be made to the family for a fund to be established in Bob's memory.

Robert Adolf Boens was born October 14, 1932, in Moline, Illinois, the son of Gustaf and Martha (Rydell) Boens. He grew up farming with his brothers, Bud and Richard. He served in the U.S. Army for two years before marrying Cleo Greenwood on April 27, 1957, in Milan.

Bob was employed by Deere and Company in the product development/engineering research division for 28 years, retiring as a supervisor from the John Deere Technical Center. He went on to farm on a fulltime basis for another 30 years, harvesting his final crop at the age of 84.

He was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church his entire life, but also attended First Presbyterian Church in Coal Valley with his wife of 61 years. Bob was true country, most comfortable when repairing farm equipment or working in the field. He never met a piece of field machinery he couldn't fix. To simply stand and look out over a growing crop gave him immense pleasure.

An avid fisherman, he loved angling the swift flowing streams of his beloved Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming.

Robert is survived by his beloved wife, Cleo; two children, Lonie Boens of Waverly, Nebraska, and Mark (Beth) Boens of Sherrard; a granddaughter, Ashley Boens; sisters-in-law, Rosalee and Donna Boens, and Joanna Greenwood; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by brothers, Richard and Harold "Bud" Boens.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com