It’s challenging to sum up a life as full as Robert “Bob” Ver Steeg, Jr.’s. From race cars to airplanes, and sharing his mechanical skills with family and friends, Bob certainly made his mark on lives of many. Bob was born in Des Moines, IA on Aug. 2, 1938, to Robert Herold Ver Steeg, Sr., and Georgia Beard Ver Steeg. His early years were spent in Leadville, CO with his dog, Monday, where he raced Soap Box Derby cars and was a member of the Junior Olympic ski team.

While living in Climax, CO, Bob, and his dad hiked Mt. McNamee hauling equipment to build a TV tower to bring television service to the town of Climax. Then, in 1952 at 15 years old, he helped drive the moving truck to the Tri-Cities where his father got a job as an electrician. When Bob turned 18 in 1956, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served until April 1959. After completing his military service, Bob learned to fly and became an instrument rated flight instructor.  Bob’s careers included being a ham radio operator, construction electrician (one of three generations) who worked for Lord Electric, JRT and WPSS, and was later an electrical instructor.

Bob’s real passion showed when he began drag racing. He moved up the race car ladder from racing altered drag cars to building and racing his funny car, with everything in between. He liked to paint them yellow so they would show up better at night. After a horrible accident at Yakima Raceway in 1988, Bob’s passion moved to airplanes and Bob gave 100% to this new endeavor, building and flying various aircraft. He flew a Titan Tornado, and built and flew gyrocopters, a three-quarter scale P-51 and a turbine powered helicopter. A man of nine+ lives, he walked away from several crashes.

Bob’s skills saved the day when a B52 bomber was scheduled to fly over Richland High School’s graduation, but the plane had mechanical issues. Bob built the needed part for the repair that kept the plane on schedule and earned him an invite to fly with the bomber on its return trip to McMinnville. He even got to fly it for a bit!

Always working with his hands, he and two friends built a full-scale replica of the Fat Man bomb that can be seen at Richland High School reunions and the West Richland Veteran’s Day parade. His artistic talent included using his plasma cutter to make quail and house signs for friends. This talent also earned him prizes at the TRAC Garden Show several years in a row.

Bob was a regular at the Spudnut Shop since 1968. He loved his family and friends, wanting to visit them every evening, tired or not. Bob’s talents and passion for life and all that it had to offer will be greatly missed.

Survived by his wife Alice Ver Steeg, son Steve Ver Steeg (wife Carmen), son Lynn Ver Steeg (wife Melissa), daughter Sheila Sites Davidson, 5 grandchildren (Jarrod, Brady, Mitchell, Ashley, and Aliyah) and 2 great grandchildren (Isaac and Callie).

There will be an open house style Celebration of Life on Saturday, March 1, 2025, 2:00 pm – 4:30 p.m. at the West Richland Golf Course Event Venue.