Robert Rock, 80, passed away Oct. 20, 2012. Robert was born Jan. 4, 1932, to Clarence and Edith Rock in Woodriver, Neb.
The family farmed near Fort Morgan, then moved to Messex in 1944. He completed his schooling at Roosevelt School as one of two graduating seniors in 1950 and began his own farming operation southwest of the school. In 1953 Robert entered the service and served in Korea until Nov. 30, 1954 as a staff sergeant in both infantry and artillery battalions.
Upon returning to the U.S. Robert once again took up farming near Merino until March 1961, when he moved the operation to Sterling. On July 23, 1961, Robert married Gloria Darlene Luft, of Sterling. In 1962 the couple moved to Iliff, where Robert began farming for George A. Henderson Company and celebrated the birth of their first child, Bradley Allen. Younger brother and sister Darryl Lee and Teri Lynn followed in 1963 and 1965. In 1973 Robert hung up his irrigation boots and went to work for the Colorado Department of Highways, which prompted the family’s move to Brighton in 1980 where Robert worked out of the Fort Lupton yard. Robert retired from the Highway Deparment in 1990.
Robert is survived by his wife, Gloria Darlene (Luft) Rock, of Brighton; his three children, Brad and Marla Rock, of Wray, Darryl and Kathy Rock, of Fredonia, N.Y., and Teri and Ben Hein, of Fairbury, Neb., and his six grandchildren: Alex (Audrey) and Amanda Rock, Damian and Austin Rock, and Corey and Zach Dawley and by his great-grandson Hesten Robert Rock.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, at 10 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 1400 S. Skeel, Brighton. Graveside services will follow at 2:15 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery in Sterling. Viewing prior to services.
Tabor-Rice Funeral Home is handling the arrangments.