Robert Heybrock

Robert Henry Heybrock was born August 29, 1920 to William Fredrick Heybrock and Anna Lousie (Hartman) Heybrock in Sterling, Colorado. He was baptized into the Christian faith by the grace and call of the Triune God on September 26, 1920. At the age of 98 years, Bob passed to his eternal home on February 15, 2019 in Lakewood, Colorado.

Robert, often called Bob, was the youngest in the family of eight. When he was about 4 years old, the family returned to Nebraska settling in the Fremont area. The family regularly attended the closet Lutheran Church whereby the foundation of the knowledge of his lifelong faith was laid. They lived on a number of farms and he attended seven different grade schools. Perhaps this was the reason that Bob was so outgoing and adept at making friends. Although Bob helped with farming, because of his allergies, he wanted to obtain an education and became the first one in his family to receive a high school diploma. He succeeded in this goal when he graduated from Fremont High School with the class of 1940. Unfortunately, this was at the height of the Great Depression when jobs and opportunities were scarce.

When a friend decided to go to Denver to find work, Bob decided to go with him. He was one the fortunate job-seekers in the city when he found his first job making fluorescent light bulbs. With America's active involvement in World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Bob wanted to help his country so he changed jobs and began making inserts for gas masks for the army.

In the fall of 1942, the Dodge County Draft Board selected his number and Bob was inducted into the U.S. Army. Shortly thereafter, he left Denver for military training to be a combat infantryman and as a combat surveyor. He served with the 302nd Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry Division in combat in central Europe as the Allies pushed into Germany. During this period, Bob saw numerous combat actions where he saw friends and enemies fall. Bob's faith preserved him through these actions and he knew his Heavenly Father was watching over him. Several months after the triumphant Allies defeated the Axis forces and while serving in the occupation of Europe, Bob was ordered home and received his honorable discharge with a good conduct medal in December, 1945, from the U.S. Army. For remainder of his life, the adventures and hardships he faced in WWII became the source for his life stories. Throughout his life, he related tales of these adventures and hardships and more importantly for Bob, was how God had protected him throughout the course of the War. God's grace, love and power were evident in a number of stories of combat. Even though WWII formed the focal point for his tales, Bob was also conversant in current events and local affairs.

He returned to Denver and found work in various manufacturing firms and began studying to achieve his goal of obtaining a college degree in business. Along the way, Bob earned several Certificates in business and equipment skills. He was only a few credits shy of his goal when the college closed, so he never received his degree. Bob took education seriously and had learned many skills in college which he now applied to his professional life. He also used his skill to serve God's church. Bob combined his love for God and his love for education by doing as much as he could for day school and the early education center at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. In his years at Mt. Calvary served in many, various positions until he transferred to St. Luke's Lutheran Church when he moved to Lakewood, CO. Bob continued to offer his skills and abilities to God through service to the local congregation. Bob's love for education compelled him to regularly attend bible classes at the church and to even go beyond those classes and he attended numerous seminars and training classes offered by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

When he moved to Lakewood, he chose a condominium on the 3rd floor with a wonderful view of the mountains. Since there was no elevator, he kept fit well into his 90s. Then, at 94, when he feared he could no longer climb the stairs, he became the proud owner of a ranch-style, single-family home in Lakewood. This home quickly became his pride and joy.

Bob always had an easy smile and a twinkle in his eyes. His sense of humor was dry but one could always tell the twinkle in his eye when he was in a joking mood. He enjoyed church activities, watching sports on television, and keeping informed by reading the newspaper. He was a bold man, a determined man (some would say stubborn), but most of all he was a Godly man.

While we rejoice and celebrate his life, Bob would have us shift our focus from him to the redeeming work of Jesus Christ which saves God's people through faith in Christ Jesus. This is what Bob would want us to rejoice and celebrate.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers August, Richard, Louie and Reuben Heybrock; and his sister, Ella Rohloff. He is survived by a number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Funeral services will be held at St. Luke's Lutheran Church on Wednesday, February 27. 2019 at 3:30 p.m. He will be interned in the family plot next to his parents in Fremont, Nebraska, at a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made in Bob's name to the following charities: Concordia Theological Seminary, Student Assistance Fund, 6600 N. Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46825; or to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 8th Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001.

Funeral Service: February 27, 2019 3:30 pm

St. Luke's Lutheran Church
13119 West 20th Avenue
Golden, Colorado 80401