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Bob McIlroy
Bob's lifelong learning and experiences served him well as a teacher, coach, mental health counselor and educator as well as numerous jobs in sales. After graduating from Glenburn High School in 1954, he spent a year at Sioux Falls College in South Dakota. He received his bachelors' degree from Minot State Teachers College. His continuing education of masters and doctoral studies included the University of North Dakota, Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA.) and the United States International University (San Diego). In 1957, Bob married Frances L. Sem in Minot, North Dakota. They have three children; Tammy, Sara, and Brian. He later married Joan E. Hartzke in 1975. They reside in Wilsonville, Or. Bob was a teacher, coach, or school counselor in Ronan and Polson, MT; Poway, CA; and Beaverton, OR before accepting a position at Lewis and Clark College in Portland. Upon leaving Lewis and Clark, he went into private practice, forming the company "The Counseling Institute" in Lake Oswego, Or. Upon retirement, Bob again entered sales by forming the company of Featherlite Horse Trailers of Wilsonville in Or. His memberships included the American Counseling Association, the Arabian Horse Registry of America, and the Glenburn Boosters. Bob spent his lifetime loving horses. He experienced much
joy in raising and showing Arabian horses. Until the last five
years of his life, Bob's home always included horses. Other interests
include the outdoors and nature as well as the study of wildlife.
Bob especially enjoyed children and working with them and their needs. He loved family, friends, laughter, learning, science, philosophy, justice, kindness, compassion, and every moment of his life. Bob enjoyed people of all persuasions. He wanted to know and support each person's interests as well as his own. He especially enjoyed the Glenburn/Renville County community of family and friends. Soaring through life with his many careers and locations, he returned to his roots in North Dakota when he purchased a farm 12 miles east of Glenburn. He has resided here part-time since 1995. Bob was diagnosed with colon cancer on August 31, 2001. He beat the odds via surgeries, all available chemotherapies and biologics, and even a clinical trial for cancer treatment in Portland, OR. Bob always said, "I'm not dying with cancer. I'm choosing to live with it. His positive attitude and his life in North Dakota helped him live well beyond his 18 month prognosis. He died on Friday, September 5, 2008 at his farm home. Bob is survived by his wife, Joan, of Wilsonville, Or.; children Tamara McIlroy, Sara and husband Russ, Myers, and Brian McIlroy, all of Vancouver, WA.; three grandchildren, Robert M. McIlroy, and Max and Molly Myers; brother, Bruce E McIlroy and wife, Glenda, of Bellevue, WA and sister, Dianne McIlroy Rush and husband, Patrick, of Springfield, OR. His is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. A casual, non-traditional celebration of Bob's life will be held at the First Baptist Church of Glenburn on Monday, September 8 at 2:00pm. Burial will take place at a later time. Memorial Contributions may be sent to Cancer Care cottage, Trinity Health Foundation, P.O. Box 520, Minot, North Dakota 58702. The family wishes to thank this community of family and friends and the Trinity Oncology and Cancer Center doctors, nurses and staff for their care, concern and many acts of kindness. Officiant: Dianne McIlroy Rush Moment of Silence: For personal reflection, prayer and meditation Music Honorary Bearers: Bob's family and friends To sign the online guest register
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On
December 20, 1936, Robert Donald McIlroy was born in Glenburn,
ND to parents Ted R and Helen Clark McIlroy. Bob's parents gave
him deep roots and strong wings.