Robert Cardin
Robert Lee (Bob) Cardin, 82, of Kerrville, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at his home in Kerrville, Texas, with his family at his bedside. He was born in a house in Marquette, to parents Miles and Harriett Cardin on June 21, 1937. He married the love of his life, Judith Anne Risdon, on June 21, 1958, in Independence.
Bob went to school at Mar-Mac in McGregor. He started working at the age of 14 on his uncle’s farm, and, at age 16, began working at the Strand Theater running the movie projector to earn money for basketball shoes. He also worked at Hipps Auto Garage in Prairie du Chien, Wis., until he graduated from Mar-Mac High School in 1955.
After high school, Bob was recruited by the University of Dubuque to play basketball. Instead, he chose to attend Cedar Rapids Barber College. After six months of training, he did an 18-month internship at Nick’s Barber Shop in Oelwein before taking his final state board exam. He worked at Nick’s until December of 1958, when he and his wife purchased Obrien’s Barber Shop in Oelwein and continued as Cardin’s Beauty and Barber Shop for 25 years.
In 1983, Bob and his wife purchased Conlee’s College of Cosmetology and moved to Kerrville, Texas. In addition to his barber license, he became a barber instructor, and also went through the cosmetology training to get a cosmetology instructor license. Bob was asked to substitute for two weeks as the barber at the VA Hospital in Kerrville and this turned into full time for 26 years and he retired in 2016. He loved serving patients and the veterans and they loved him too.
Bob loved all sports, including basketball, golf and hunting. He was a referee for girls and boys high school basketball for 24 years. As an official, he achieved one of the highest rankings in the state of Iowa. His passion was playing golf and had two holes in one during his lifetime.
Bob was very active in the community. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville, and held a dual membership in the Masonic Lodge in Kerrville, Texas and Oelwein.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Miles and Harriett Cardin, and sister, Judy Wendling.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Cardin; son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Debbie Cardin of Otley; daughter and son-in-law, Toni and Steve Rabroker of Carrollton, Texas; granddaughter, Sara Green; grandson, Nathan Cardin and wife Melissa; and great-granddaughter twins, Emmeline and Lola Cardin.
Services were held on Friday, Nov. 8, at the First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to C.A.M. Please check funeral home website for other organizations.
The family wishes to extend sincere thanks to Peterson Hospice, especially Angela, and doctors William Calley, Sr. and Jr.
The family invites you to send condolences at www.grimesfuneralchapels.com by selecting the “send condolences” link.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville, Texas.
