Robert Lyle Calderwood, 83, of Seneca, KS, died Sunday evening, May 14, 2006, at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

He was born on August 31, 1922 in Hoyt, KS, the 9th of ten children, to Henry Sabin and Sadie Belle Greg Calderwood. Robert was raised in Denison and Mayetta where he also attended school. As a young man, Robert plastered houses with his father and brothers.

On December 26, 1942, he married Maurine Elizabeth Bowser in Lawrence, KS. He then was inducted and became active in the U.S. Army in February of 1943. While in the service, he served with the Army Air Corps in World War II in the European Theatre. As a sergeant he was a meat cutter and spent two and a half years overseas. He received the American Defense Service Medal, EAME Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Throughout the years, Robert owned and operated many different businesses. He first had a butcher business in the A&P store on Main Street in Seneca. While a butcher at A&P, he also opened Lakeside Steakhouse, located at Nemaha County Lake on Kansas Highway 63, on Mother’s Day weekend in 1957, offering 13 items. Then in 1959, Robert got out of the butcher business and purchased a dime store in Seneca, which he and his wife Maurine operated by day, while still running their restaurant at night. They later sold the dime store to focus on the restaurant.

In 1965 they relocated their restaurant to Seneca on the east end of US Highway 36, and renamed it Bob’s Sirloin Room. “Bob’s,” as everyone called it, started with one dining room, but eventually the facility was expanded to include a lounge and bar, two more dining rooms, a larger kitchen, and a bakery.

Bob prided himself on the fact that they cut all of their own meat and baked all of their own bread in-house. In 1985, he was given the Allied Pork industry award for his promotion of pork. Robert also received the Restauranteur of the Year award in 1987. Many people considered the prime rib the signature dish at Bob’s Sirloin Room, and Bob took great pride in that.

As for his hobbies, nothing in the world topped Bob’s love for his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but playing golf came pretty close. He could usually be found on the golf course everyday at noon with his golf buddies. During his golf career, he was proud to have made six hole-in-ones. When he wasn’t playing golf, he enjoyed playing cards with his Monday night pitch group. He played pitch constantly with his sons, son-in-law, and grandchildren any time they were together. His favorite game phrase was, “Let’s play Bobby Calderwoody wins…”

Bob was a member of many different organizations throughout his life. He was an 11-year member of the Kansas Restaurant Association Board of Directors and was a past president. He was a Shriner of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Noblest of the Mystic Shrine and helped raise money for disabled children in Kansas. He was a 25-year member of the Seneca Lions Club, served on the Board of Trustees for his church, and was also a member of the VFW, American Legion, and Masonic Lodge AF & AM 39.

Bob loved the town of Seneca and had a hand in many improvements for the town and served on the city council.

Survivors include his wife, Maurine; four children, Charles and his wife Jenny of Jacksonville, FL, Lyle and his wife Susan of Powder Springs, GA, Sharon Medica and her husband Mike of Hot Springs Village, AR, and David and his wife Margie, of Seneca; one brother, Sam Calderwood of Topeka; two sisters, Emma Cress and Betty Woodward, both of Topeka; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by four brothers, Leon, Chuck, Ozzie, and Lou; two sisters, Gertie Banahan and Frieda Bohanan; and one grandson, Rodney Calderwood.

Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8 PM Tuesday, May 16, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Services will be held at 11 AM Wednesday, May 17, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given for the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, the new Seneca Pool Project, or Spring Creek Golf Course, and sent in care of the family.