Five Years! I'm still waiting for you to walk around the corner, to greet me with that amazing smile that expresses all the happiness we've found together.  I know that you're beside me and I find you in music, when my children recall special times with you and are sad with me that you aren't with us. What a gift it was to even have a short time together.  I'm grateful for all the wonderful memories that continue to help me through each day.  I love you.

I just set up an endowed fund at Concordia in Larry's name but it really should have been in both Larry and Bob's names. I can't think of Concordia without thinking of the two of them.  Bless all of you - Scott, Bobbie and Judy

Hi Dad, how have you and Mac been doing? Happy Birthday! I’d love to take you to El Loro’s so you could enjoy your dinner and ask Sean “are you going to finish all that?” Tell Frost we miss him too, love you Dad.

Bless all of you. 

Happy Birthday Dad, now it’s my turn: “Dad, It’s Travis, call me back.” Love you.

Bob was truly a special person to our family and especially my husband, Larry. 

Thinking of you dad. I wish we could make plans together to see Steven when he come home on leave. Damn we miss you.

Happy Birthday Dad, Bobbi and I will always miss your phone calls “Bobbi, it’s dad, call me back.” As if we didn’t know who was calling. 

Hi Judy and all. It was really nice to see you all while celebrating Bob's fascinating life. A great tribute to a fine man. Larry Chantland

"Go Rest High on that Mountain", Bob! Thank you for your service! The world is a better place because of you. Gone too soon!

Hi Judy, Looking forward to seeing you and yours at Bob's celebration of life in June. All my best! Larry Chantland

I'm thinking of you today, sweetheart--even more than usual, although I'm not sure that's possible. It's comforting to think that you are with your mother and father on the celebration of your birth. Sending my love to you, missing you more than I could've thought possible.

Judy,
I was so sorry to hear the loss of Bobby. I was excited when I learned that the two of you were together. I can't express my sadness that you and Bobby had such a short time together.
In my thoughts and prayers,
Sue Carlson Skjong

Judy
I heard about your husband's passing from a mutual friend, in COTS.
I'm sorry for your loss since I knew you were elated about reuniting with Bob. I never met him, but am sure you both enjoyed a few years together again.
Like you, I found love again a second time, but mine also passed away too quickly, Nov 29.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal.
Love leaves memories no one can steal.
Love you
Jane 

While reading the Detroit paper I turned the page and there was Bob's picture. I was surprised and saddened. A good man and a fellow Marine. Met him at Detroit Diesel and new him well in Brighton. RIP Bob!

Dear family of Mr. Arboleda,
I am so sorry for your great loss. When I have gone through times of grief, this promise from our Creator has brought me comfort. He promises us a time in the near future when mourning, outcry, pain, and even death itself will be no more. (Rev. 21:4). I hope this thought will bring you some solace as you grieve. My deepest condolences.

So sorry to hear about Bob's passing. My sincere condolences to all the "Arby's". Larry Chantland

In the early 80's my husband Cass met Bob at Detroit Diesel. After learning Bob was a new hire and didn't know to many people Cass brought him home for a home cooked dinner and we've been friends ever since. Bob spent many evenings and nights at our house.
Countless stories talking about his childhood growing up in Pine River the crazy mischievous gags and pranks he and his brothers undertakings.
-Bob would sit for hours telling us stories about his experiences in Vietnam I
remember him saying at one point in time he talked to someone about a
documentary about one of the battles in Vietnam. 
Bob asked Cass to help him move his family from MN to MI they accomplished the move in 3 days. That was Bob - get it done! He had a great work ethic and passed that to Bobby and Scott.
We made a few trips to Pine River and as always, Bob was the Educator of Nature and Land. Eagles, turtles, fish, wild rice, Indian tribes you name it he knew about it - he was a wealth of information. He even harvested the black rice by his property and brought it back to MI for me. He was so excited when he told us about reconnecting with his high school sweetheart Judy. You could tell in his voice how happy he was. Bob showed his love through his actions and stories.
It is with a heavy heart remembering our dear friend Bob an honorable, generous loving man. Rest in Peace, until we meet again. We love you

As a fellow Marine who went though Basic Class with Bob and I was there when his daughter Bobbi was born ( by the way my wife drove his wife to the hospital). We lost touch for about 50 years and were reunited at our fiftieth reunion in Quantico where we sat together and reminisced about our Military times. I was so looking forward to seeing him at our 52nd reunion when tragedy struck. Love you Bob. Rest in Peace.

Semper Fi Good Guy  Had Many Encounters with Bob over the  Years at Detroit Diesel----He did Not B. S. You. He got the gist of my Problem and he Did His Damnedest to Assist Me in situation  Rest Easy my Friend & Comrade in Arms Phil Burns (Cmdr.)

Very sad hearing this news. I had many conversations with Arbo both work related and just about anything else. I was always amazed that he treated me as if we knew each other our whole lives. He was a true friend.
Ugo J Abate

I was caught completely by surprise of Bob's passing as I spent much enjoyable time with him and his wife at the Detroit Diesel luncheon this year. I he seemed his old self, healthy and fun to be with. I have known Bob over the years and enjoyed working with him. He always was a great source of the news and what was behind the scenes at Detroit Diesel. Until now I did not know of all his tremendous background and accomplishments.

Bob you will be missed, it was a pleasure to know you and with you at Detroit!

I was terribley sad to hear the passing of Arbo that was his nickname that he was known for. I was personally involved with the hiring team the year Arbo was interviewed for employment at DDC and have known him since until I retired from Detroit Diesel in 2001. He was a great hard working guy that cared for others and serviced our manufacturing team with overwhelming enthusiasm. RIP my friend.

I knew Arbo almost all of the time he was at Detroit Diesel. During that time we worked on many projects together. Always went to him when I had questions on some part or assembly. He was a hard worker and given a task would "run thru walls" to complete it. I saw Bob and spent a few minutes with him and Judy at the Detroit Diesel Retirees dinner on Oct 18. I will miss him.

Bob was a great guy, a great engineer and a friend. You will be missed!

RIP, Bob. And thank you for your scervice.

I did not meet Bob until he abd his family came to our house for the first of maybe 20 Thanksgivings together. He and my late husband Larry were college roommates at Concordia abd I had heard about their antics at Concordia for years. Larry loved Bob like a brother.  coincidently my husbands memorial service was 3 days before Bob passed and we received a sympathy card from him 2 days later that Bob mailed the day before he died as he was leaving Pine River to go to New Orleans. Bless all of you who knew and loved Bob

Bobby was on our football team as a sophomore, when I was a senior. He was a little bit of a squirt but didn’t know it. He had the heart and mind of a 6’2” 200# Quarterback. I used to kid him that he would be good at quarterback sneaks as no one could see him coming and he was a very fast runner. Even though I have not seen him through all these years, I remember his constant infectious smile. Always cheerful and a bit of mischievousness in his eyes. RIP Bobby. We lost a good man too soon. My condolences to Judy and the Arboleda family.

This is a wonderful collection of photos! As a high school classmate and friend of Bobby's and his Pine River family, I am so sad at his passing but grateful for a life well lived.

I had the fortune of spending a lot of time with Mr. Arboleda in my youth as he was one of my Dad's best friends, and Scott was one of my best friends. Some of my favorite memories:
- Going fishing with Mr. Arboleda at the family cottage in Pine River...the fish were really biting and we caught some good sized northern pike and walleye. I remember Mr. Arboleda teaching me how to gut the fish and he grilled them up. We ate well!
- Visiting his relative's farm in Minnesota and being taught how to slaughter chickens...definitely something I will never forget!
- Mr. Arboleda and Scott would come visit my dad and me on the occasional Friday night when we were younger. Scott and I would play while our dads would talk over a few beers. Good times.
- Hearing some of Mr. Arboleda's intense war stories...not for the faint of heart!
That's really just scratching the surface. Mr. Arboleda was a great friend to me and my family and will truly be missed.

Arbo (Bob) always had a story to tell and a good word for everyone.
He would stop by when coming to visit Scott and always brought some fresh caught fish from Minnesota. What a guy!!!!!!