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In Memory Classmates

Bob Jeniker

Bob Jeniker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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04/21/14 06:15 PM #1    

Jim Rolando

Bob's grandmother lived in McQueen. As Bob told the tale, we first met when he and John Mike Sullivan made the mistake one afternoon of venturing across no man's land into Meaderville territory and I and a group of friends chased them back to McQueen with rocks. I have no recollection of that event, but, I like the story because if it is true it was probably pre-payment for him trying to steal my girlfriends in years to come.

Bob and I were friends from somewhere around 8th grade until he passesd away. We lived together for a year in college. "Jeniker stories" abound; and I can attest that most of them are true. He was amazingly bright, never having to attend class to get an A and at the same time was a constant source of entainment and intrigue. Like what? There are hundreds of instances but, at the moment one stands out. One morning about four a.m. he came home and woke me up. "Rollo Rollo you've got to give me a hand." With what I asked. "Just come with me and help me". So, we went a few blocks away, knocked on the door of three guys and beat the crap out of them in their kitchen. i have no idea to this day who they were or why we did that. But, when friends ask for your help you have no choice but to comply.

The last time we went on safari we drove up the East Fork and visited Daryl Maki and Moose Jorgenson. We went fly fishing. That was the last time I saw Bob except for a short stop at my house a few weeks later. We talked on the phone shortly before he died. I'll miss him for the rest of my life.


04/22/14 06:54 PM #2    

Don Plessas

Nice tribute Jim, to our friend, Bob Jeniker.

Your story reminded me of one of Bob's requests. He asked me to take a ride with him in Ken Ronning's old pickup.  He was heading up to the top of Red Mountain to the lookout tower to visit Suzzane. As you said, when Bob asked you something we don't question. Anyway we took the truck up the hill all the way to the lookout and visited with Suzzane for about an hour.  She showed us the insulated chair she sat in during lighning storms.

On the trip down I realize he was not worried about going up the hill but down the hill may be a problem. Ken did not have the most reliable truck. He probably wanted a witness that he tried everything he could to ge the brakes to work. As he was breaking and it did not look to good he told me to prepare to jump.  Lucky for us that the brakes did hold and we did not need to bail.

I still remember that as one of my most memorable rides. Years later I went up the hill in a 4-wheel drive and thought - why on earth were we crazy to go up there in Ken's 2-wheel drive old truck.

Bob left us lots of memories and many more stories.  I especially miss his laugh.


05/06/14 08:14 PM #3    

Carol Merrett (Gilbert)

I reconnected with Bob at the reunion prior to his death. I don't remember which one it was, but it was so much fun reminiscing about times at the Longfellow Little League when we were both 11 or 12 years old.  Bob played on the Yanks with my nephew, Dan Driscoll while I cheered from the bleechers.  I had such a crush on him....from afar.  The only time we shared anything "intimate" was a donut which the Rademaker's brought to celebrate one of the Yank's wins.  Bob was the winning pitcher.  He passed me a donut......it was thrilling for me as a silly 12 year old girl, but just a donut for him.  He was amused to hear about my crush and, of course, never remembered passing me the donut.  I so enjoyed our time together at the reunion.  He was such a special guy and gone far too soon. 

 


06/19/14 08:01 PM #4    

Bill Goodman

I left Butte and Montana in the fall of 1966, off to my Junior year at Oregon State. Somehow I remained in contact with Bob Jeniker. I remember one trip to Butte for Christmas staying with him and Jim Rolando (I believe) and catching a ride from Missoula with Don Brunell. After Graduation it was the Navy for me but then too I was able to keep in contact with Bob. In 1973 I then came to Seattle looking for a job and hooked up with Bob on Bainbridge Island where he was living and starting a record business. I landed a job in Portland and Bob soon started a record business in Portland – saw him numerous times. I came to the Seattle area in 1978 and Bob sometime latter established his Park Avenue Records business in Seattle - we hooked up numerous times – once with my daughters at his Queen Ann record shop where he gave them an album he was promoting for a Seattle all-girl band – the “Visible Targets”. As he was supplying records to Juke Box City, he volunteered to help me acquire a juke box in early 90's.  I was able to buy a guitar amplifier from him in the mid 1990’s. John Domitrovich (of Anaconda fame) came to town (Seattle) and the three of us had a wild night at the Belleview Red Lion.  After Bob became ill I had lunch with him several times – meeting him in Kent, WA south of Seattle. He was into antique guitars and amplifers and I remember him telling me that the Fender Jaguar guitar came in 33 different colors and he owned 32 colors – he later sold them as his condition worsened. At his memorial service in North Seattle Bob Holly and Jim Mischkot came up from Oregon, Ken Ronning and Daryl Mackey from Butte and Darby and I from the Seattle area – we were the small early years contingency from Butte – a small group in a much larger field of Bob’s current friends. It was apparent to me that Bob had never lost his art of communication and gathering friends around. Jim Mischkot spoke for the group and did a fine job of representing us and the friends from Butte that were not there. Bob was just one of those guys one doesn’t forget!

Bill Goodman


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