Robert B. Vollmar

Robert B. Vollmar

Robert Bryce Vollmar, 93, passed peacefully at home on Thursday April 25 with his son Mike and daughter Karen Hubbs at his side. He is survived by son Michael Vollmar, and daughter Karen Hubbs, their spouses and his four grandchildren. Bob never let go of his love for his wife Willi who passed away in 1992.

Bob Vollmar was born in Holstein to Bryce and Mary Vollmar. Bob had a younger beloved brother Craig who sadly passed but is survived by his Wife Alice and family.

Bob’s father, Bryce, was an Industrialist who exposed him to business and culture across the US. Bob saw Louis Armstrong and other bands of the period. This exposure created a life-long passion for Jazz. Hence, Bob, who always fully engaged in an interest with passion, took up the Slide Trombone in HS, and won the Iowa State Championship with the support of the Holstein HS music teacher, Cooney Clauson. Upon graduation from HS and Inspired by Nat King Cole’s song “Route 66”, he and two of his friends bought Harley Davidson motorcycles and embarked on the trip of a lifetime across the US on Route 66.

While attending the University of Iowa, Bob joined the Iowa National Guard and earned his wings as a jet fighter pilot and 1st LT. Squadron Commander at Marana AFB in AZ. The Korean war was ending, and the base needed the flight hours to maintain the fleet so Bob had the task of flying as many hours as he could, traveling virtually anywhere he chose in the US. This at a time when jets were not yet available to commercial airlines. In flights to LAX, the ground crew was surprised to find a set of golf clubs in the wing compartment Turned loose, he flew to, among other great cities, New Orleans, and New York City to hear many of the great jazz musicians and to date his eventual wife Willi, a gorgeous NYC based TWA Stewardess. As if courting her in a fighter jet were not impressive enough, he once “buzzed” her flight out of NY, which led to the crew being interrogated; luckily, no one cracked. 

Bob graduated with a law degree from the University of Iowa, passed the bar and took a position in the Trust Department in the Valley National Bank in Arizona. In 1965, he took a position in the First National Bank of San Diego, moving his family to La Jolla and joining La Jolla Country Club. By 1969, he was promoted to Vice President and head the Trust Department. He eventually became a sought after, Independent Consultant setting up Trusts and providing Estate Planning. 

Bob enthusiastically played golf, drove Corvettes, raced formula 1 cars, enjoyed  Jazz, classical, blues, rag-time and rock music, and worked out with passion. He was an avid reader and completed NY Times crossword puzzles in minutes and enjoyed walks near the beach to the end with the company of his “team” of beautiful, caring “assistants”.

Bob’s wishes were for cremation and burial at Sea. The family held a small private gathering.