Robert Joseph Humm's Obituary
Robert Joseph Humm, 89, of Lakewood, Washington, passed away May 1, 2019 in Tacoma
Born September 19, 1929 to Robert (Pete) and Alma (Hey) Humm in Falls City Nebraska, Bob was to be the oldest of 13 children. Bob had many stories of his very happy childhood, sounding at times like he lived in Mayberry RFD. His early years appeared full of mischief (there was a story of throwing tomatoes from the farm truck) and later years full of more gainful activity. He was a lifeguard (later his kids were always amazed at how smoothly he swam through the water), a taxi driver (possibly as early as 14) and a lineman working for the power company (certainly officially too young for this job). Dropping out of school early (the nuns told him to go home according to him) he joined the army at the end of WWII and did two tours of duty in Germany, eventually spanning nearly 10 years. Early in his first tour he met Helga Winter (and her little boy Edward (Daniel)) who in 1950 became his wife and eventually mother of their children (Loraine, Mary (mother of Julius and Lorraine), Lawrence). Bob spent 22 years in the army as a paratrooper (he did over 180 jumps), Green Beret and communications specialist. Bob enjoyed telling some of the adventures he had as a young man in Germany including swimming the Rhein river and numerous TDY’s to remove and reconstruct the Army’s communication infrastructure in Germany. Nearly 70 years later we had the chance to float down the Rhein with him where he pointed out the Mouse Tower which he climbed at age 17 to cut down the communication lines that spanned the river. Bob was very, but quietly, proud of his Army career. His military discipline was present but not overbearing in the house, he raised the flag every day and had the nicest lawn and garden in the neighborhood. Bob did boot camp at Fort Lewis near Tacoma Washington and loved the area so much that he decided then that he would eventually return to the area to live, which he did in 1963.
From 1964 to 1971 Bob raised us kids as a single father after the loss of our mother. He cared for us and spoiled us in a simple way with Sunday drives, trips to the lake to swim and of course occasionally ice cream. Sometime during that period he bought us a console color(!) television with built in record player and radio, but most importantly it had an ultrasonic remote control, something straight out of the space age, and in fact we watched all the Apollo launches and the moon walks on that tv. Its sheer extravagance made it the center of our childhood and we would watch tv together as a family each evening for many years. Bob liked to do special things for the kids, one Christmas he brought home a complete set of life-size reindeer with Santa and sleigh, presumably from a business that was done with them, all wonderfully painted and made of plywood. So for many Christmases to come, there was a 30 foot long display of Santa and reindeer on the roof, which took real effort. He also brought home a couple of discarded fire suits from McCord Airforce Base. They were Silvered fire protection suits like you see used for intense fuel fires. They were endless fun. He also bought a ping pong table which was the source of endless hours of play on the patio by many of the neighborhood kids, and would put up a massive Army tent in the backyard for the kids to sleep in all summer.
Other memories from that time were his cooking (practical, at times inedible) and carrot juice. We went through many pounds of carrots a week for years after a door to door sales man brought a massive juicer to the door.
After retiring from the Army and a brief period as a carpenter, Bob began working as a cable TV lineman. At the time cable tv was new and Bob eventually installed most of the distribution lines in Tacoma and saw cable go from a novelty that few felt they needed to the absolute necessity it is today.
In 1971 Bob married June Marie Moe. She brought two boys with her to the family, Don (Brenden and Shelby) and Darrell “Bud”. He bought a new 1971 Vistacruiser station wagon to hold the now family of 7. That car was subsequently driven, pulling an Apache fold up camper, through most of the US states, especially during one 2 month trip around the country including California (Disneyland and beaches) Texas, New Orleans, Florida (including Key West), Washington DC, South Dakoda (Mount Rushmore), and Nebraska (all the many relatives) . That was a great summer of driving, with the windows wide open, to many of the most amazing places in the country, including a lot of places to swim. Bob did love road trips and they were a big part of the family life from the beginning.
Bob was very active in the neighborhood, being the “Master Sargent” of the neighborhood-watch, and participating for many years in the Boy Scouts. Bob really enjoyed the outdoors and in his 50’s decided he would climb mountains. Starting by jogging the neighborhood in his hiking boots, he eventually climbed Mt. Adams, St Helens, Baker and Rainier.
Bob liked to work with his hands, an early project was the backyard fireplace. Construction started by going to an old fallen down industrial chimney and accumulating bricks which the kids subsequently spent a lifetime chipping old mortar off of. The fireplace, which still stands today, was really an outdoor stove, or perhaps a 60’s BBQ before you could go to the BBQ store and buy one. There were many many other projects after that, including a double car garage, with the old garage being converted into the rec room where much of family life happened over the next 50 years, an immense covered patio to allow nearly year round outdoor sitting, the “Rock Garden, really a small swimming pool sized planter full of beautiful flowers surrounded by truly massive, (up to 1000lb) stones that he found around town, a hand dug basement and neither last nor least, an immense Koi pond with waterfall. Bob was ingenuous at building things, using his own approach including making his own stones by putting cement in sandwich bags, which he used to build his six foot waterwheel.
Bob retired a few years early because he knew what was important in life and spend many years camping using the mini-Winnebago motor home, often with Brenden an Shelby, Don’s kids. The mini-wini eventually made it to Alaska and back and still sits today in the carport Bob build to accommodate it.
After June passed away in 2017, Mary moved in permanently with him, probably because she knew he couldn’t survive on his own cooking, and proceeded to convert him to a vegetarian. During his last years he also had the regular company of his grandchildren Lorraine (who he said studied too much) and Shelby (who he delighted in going out to coffee with)
Bob fell asleep in his favorite chair in the rec room while looking at old pictures and never awoke. He leaves behind 4 remaining children and 4 grandchildren that will miss him greatly.
He was preceded in death by both his wives and parents, sisters Betty Whitten, Carol Marteny, and Sister Mary Alma. Brothers John, Richard and Fred.
He is survived by his son Lawrence of Gothenburg, Sweden and daughters Loraine Humm of Billings, Montana and Mary and (Tony) Descheenie of Page, Arizona; Sisters Katherine ( Monte) Cox of Papillion, Margie (Larry) Cook of Plattsmouth, Mary ( Leon) Wenz and Patricia (Francis) Simmons of Falls City. Brothers Jim of Dawson, Charlie of Rulo and grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
There will be a gathering of friends and family in Bob’s back yard on Wednesday May 8 at 6:30.
Also,
There will be a military burial on Thursday May 9 at 11:30 am at:
TAHOMA NATIONAL CEMETERY
18600 SE 240TH ST, KENT, WA 98042
(425) 413-9614
Directions to Tahoma National Cemetery: From Sea-Tac Airport, take Interstate-5 southbound to exit 142A (Highway 18 Auburn/North Bend). Stay on Highway 18 for 13 miles. Take the S.E. 256th Street exit. At the stop sign turn left onto 256th Street. At the first traffic light, turn right onto 180th Avenue S.E. proceed straight after three way stop. At the stop sign, turn right onto 240th Street. Tahoma National Cemetery is ¼ mile on left.
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