Robert 'Bob' Henry Neumeyer, 93

Bob Neumeyer, 93, passed away Jan. 19, 2024, in Eagle, Idaho.

Bob was born on March 27, 1930, in Denison, Iowa, to Viola and Rudy Neumeyer. The oldest of five boys, they all helped with the farm and were active in 4-H and FFA. Bob attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse, riding the family horse, Babe, with three of his younger brothers two miles to and from school each day and checking a trap line along the way. 

After high school, Bob continued to work on his dad’s farm until the Korean War when he and five high school classmates enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Kessler Field in Biloxi, Miss., and then Elmendorf Field in Anchorage, Alaska, and worked as a welder in the machine shops. He was honorably discharged from the service after two years and returned to Denison to help his dad with the farm. His time in the Air Force and interest in flying led him to obtain his private pilot license 10 years later.

In 1954, Bob met Hollyce Anderson at a dance in Denison, where she was an elementary school teacher. She was the love of his life and they were married on June 24, 1955, had four children, and made their home in Tipton, Iowa. Bob worked for Foxbilt Feeds and Triple F Feeds as a sales manager during this time.

From an early age, Bob dreamed of moving out west to the mountains and raising cattle. In 1963, Bob accepted a job with the Western Livestock Journal and moved his young family to Yakima, Wash. After two years he accepted a position as Secretary Manager for the Western States Angus Association and moved his family to Citrus Heights, Calif. 

Bob loved Angus cattle and worked toward the day he could go back to ranching life. In 1968, that dream became a reality, and he became a partner in the Jaynbee Angus Ranch and moved his family one last time. Jaynbee Angus Ranch was located well north of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, seven miles from the Canadian border, and at the base of the Selkirk Mountains to the west, and the Kootenai River forming the ranch border to the east. It was what Bob had dreamed of from a young age and for the next 50 years, he and Hollyce (along with their four children until each left the ranch) ran the family-registered Angus cattle ranch. While isolated by location, the ranch brought family, friends, and Angus breeders far and wide for visits, many feeling they were lost on an abandoned logging road before finally reaching Jaynbee Ranch. 

Bob and Hollyce were longtime members of Trinity Lutheran Church and Bob was an active member of the Church Board. When arriving in Idaho, he started the Kooteneers 4-H Club and was an active 4-H leader for many years, was active in the Cattleman’s Association, and the Selkirk Saddle Club, and was a Boundary County Commissioner.

Bob was involved in the Angus business for more than 65 years. While still in Iowa, he was the first secretary and sales manager of the Denison Angus Association. As Secretary Manager of the Western States Angus Association, he was on the road much of the time, visiting Angus ranches throughout the West and arranging and managing many Angus sales. Some of his favorite memories are when he arranged cattle sales for Jimmy Stewart, Julie Andrews and Fred MacMurray. He and Hollyce enjoyed a visit to Jimmy Stewart’s Angus ranch in Hawaii. 

While serving two terms on the Board of Directors of the American Angus Association, Bob was instrumental in maintaining the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) program in the early 1980s when it was in its infancy losing money and some board members thinking it should be abolished. As Marketing Committee Chairman, Bob was the deciding vote to maintain the CAB program which ultimately became a remarkable success story and the reason Angus beef is promoted and served by restaurants around the world, from the finest steak establishments to the most popular fast-food chains.

Bob helped many other Angus breeders get their start in the business and was an adviser and mentor to many. In 1999, Bob was inducted into the Angus Heritage Foundation and honored for making major contributions in the advancement of the Angus breed. He received the award in Louisville, Ky., where his children surprised him at the ceremony. Bob served as president of the Western States Angus Association and Inland Empire Angus Association. He and Hollyce were honored at the Western National Angus Futurity in 2004.

After braving the cold and snowy winters at the ranch for many years, Bob and Hollyce began spending their winters in Lake Havasu, Ariz., where they made many friends and had lots of stories. They also traveled the world going on Angus cattle tours in Scotland, Australia and Mexico, river cruises in Europe, China and South America, and more ocean cruises than you can count. He took his children and grandchildren on several of these cruises. 

Bob was very proud of the college accomplishments of his grandchildren at the University of Idaho, Gonzaga University, Western Washington University, Santa Clara University and the University of Nebraska. 

He is survived and will be missed by Hollyce, his wife of 68 years; two brothers, Dean Neumeyer of Fountain Hills, Ariz., and Butch Neumeyer of Walker, Iowa; three children — Nancy (George) Langfield of Moscow, Idaho, Gary (Barbara) Neumeyer of Puerto Armuelles, Panama, and Jeff (Mary) Neumeyer of Eagle, Idaho; and his grandchildren, Maximillian (Rebekah) Langfield, Nampa, Idaho; Ethan Langfield, Boise, Idaho; Kyle Neumeyer, Anchorage, Alaska; Casey Neumeyer, Greybull, Wyo.; Ayla Neumeyer, Washington, D.C.; Robert Bojorquez, Seattle, Wash.; Daniel (Lea) Neumeyer, Portland, Ore.; David (Madison) Neumeyer, Boise; Joseph (Olivia) Neumeyer, Boise; Alyssa Neumeyer, Eagle; Meianna Neumeyer, Eagle; Kensington (Jon) Hill, Moscow; Colleen (Brice) Baines, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Weston Baines, Alexandria, Va.; and Sonja (Alex) Shinavier, Bonners Ferry.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Neil and Don, and his beloved daughter, Jean Neumeyer Bojorquez.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bonners Ferry, followed by interment at the Grandview Cemetery and a luncheon back at Trinity Lutheran Church. For those who are unable to attend, the service will be recorded and available at the Trinity Lutheran Church website by scrolling down to the Facebook icon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Jean Ann (Neumeyer) Bojorquez Memorial and Robert H and Hollyce Neumeyer Angus Scholarship Endowment Fund. This Endowment Fund is used by the Angus Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee to award an annual College Scholarship to an outstanding National Junior Angus Association member at the National Junior Angus Show in honor of Bob and Hollyce and their daughter Jean. Donations can be made online by selecting Jean Ann (Neumeyer) Bojorquez Memorial Angus Scholarship Endowment Fund from the drop-down options, or can be mailed to the Angus Foundation, 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506.