Robert (Bobby, Bob) Clyde Ricklefsen passed away on November 18, 2021, in Cedar Park, TX at the age of 75. He was born to Milton B. Ricklefsen and Clara Ella Poncik Ricklefsen on November 8, 1946, in Houston, Texas. Bobby and his family moved to Rosenberg a few years later and he grew up there. He attended the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Richmond, TX and served as an altar boy for approximately ten years. On July 3, 1951, the Ricklefsen family had an addition of another son, named Lawrence (Larry) Wayne. He was about 4-1/2 years younger. Bobby was very happy to have a brother and could not wait until they were able to play together. They grew up being great competitors and advocates of each other but were never intimately close until later years.
He attended school in the Lamar Consolidated School District. He was very athletic, playing little league baseball in the summers making the All-Star teams each year. He loved playing the position of catcher and thought it was the best position on the team. Bobby grew and his skills improved advancing in the minor, major, and pony leagues where he first threw from the pitcher’s mound. This changed his heart about catching, but he was committed to catching. He played on All-Star teams, representing several counties and met a lot of friends. Bobby played football at center, basketball at guard, and in track threw the shot-put in junior high. At Lamar Senior High he was not able to play football his freshman and sophomore years due to acute arch problems. He hated the special shoes he had to wear and took heat from the coaches as all were expecting a lot from him. He could not get in a four-point stance, putting pressure on his toes and his arches. He took these things to heart and knew he should be out there on Friday nights playing in the big games. Instead he contracted to throw the Houston Chronicle Newspaper during the week and on weekends. This took the place of his practicing with all his friends. He was quite a salesman, winning a fun trip to Monterey, Mexico for selling new starts for the newspaper in the tenth grade. It was an educational experience for him, but he would have traded that time to have been able to play ball. He was able to play basketball and made the varsity baseball team his freshman year. Then his junior year he made the varsity football team, lettering his last two years, winning several school and state awards for his efforts. The mustangs went to the quarter final but lost due to a frozen field.
During the summers, prior to going to college, he worked with the Superior Oil Company in the Sam Houston State Forest near Huntsville, Texas on a doddle-bug (seismograph) crew out of Rosenberg. He drove a water truck, working on the drilling rig. His final summer was spent working with the explosive team, dropping hundreds of pounds of nitroglycerine down a hole. He loved the big bang and the noise and excitement. Bobby really enjoyed his high school years and looked forward to college at Sam Houston State Teacher’s College. He tried to make the football team but was told he was too short at five feet and eight inches.
Sam Houston grew from a college to a State University and Bobby went to college as Bob. He found college life had many changes for him. He began working at the men’s gym, cleaning classrooms, mowing grass, and washing gym shorts and T-shirts. He worked 30-40 hours at 50 cents an hour. He really appreciated the financial help he received from his parents and worked hard but was not a straight A student.
During the spring semester of his freshman year, he met Diane Krutilek. He had never met anyone like her and knew he wanted to marry her. It was May 1, 1966, and twenty-one days later they were going steady. She was the inspiration in his life. During 1968, Bob’s junior year of college, he joined as Junior Executive Co-Op with Ling-Temco-Vaught Aeronautics in Grand Prairie, Texas. Also that summer, Bob and Diane became engaged to be married when they graduated. Working in the Dallas area for one semester and going to college the next semester made the two closer and on May 31, 1969, they were married at All Saints Catholic Church in Houston; honeymooned in Colorado and went back to Grand Prairie for Bob’s last semester in Aerospace. He made a good salary of $250+ a week, but he decided not to return. He had changed his degree plan to Industrial Arts in Education. While living in Huntsville, he began his teaching career at Aldine Senior High in Aldine, Texas. Diane had started her master’s degree while Bob was completing his last semester. They both continued their education and received a master’s degree. In January 1971 Bob and Diane purchased their first home in Aldine. In December 1973 Bob accepted a teaching job, and they bought their second home in Alief, TX. Their first child, Troy Allen Ricklefsen, was born on February 11, 1974. What excitement Bob felt! He had a son now along with his beautiful wife. During Thanksgiving of 1977, Bob, his bride, and son moved to their third house, still in Alief, and by March of 1978 Diane was expecting their second child. On December 18, 1978, Neil Stewart was born. Bob was happy and loved his family with all his heart and soul. Things were wonderful and exciting.
The children grew, a few years passed, and Bob became discontent. He left education, and went back into insurance sales where he had earlier found success. He enjoyed selling and was recognized as ‘Rookie of the Year’ in sales. In June of 1983 he officially started Ricks Construction and Fencing Company building decks, patio covers, fences and room additions. In August of 1984, Bob had a mild heart attack. Problems with alcohol progressed and he finally went for treatment which changed his life. He found AA, the 12-Steps, and his Higher Power, God on January 5, 1987. In the fall of 1988, he taught for one year at Alvin Senior High school as a power technology teacher. Then in May of 1990, he went to work with Correction Corporation of America in Aldine as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. In May of 1991, he accepted a position at New Directions Club, a half-way house for convicts leaving prison on parole. He worked there as a counselor and Director of Education until July of 1997. He taught the GED classes at both the male and female facilities, helping over 350 individuals to graduate. Bob continued his teaching career as a technology teacher in Katy ISD. Later, he retired after 28 years in education.
A new custom home was built in 1995 at Burleigh Plantation in Bellville, TX on six acres. The peaceful, rural country life was enjoyed. Bob and Diane commuted to the Katy area for employment. As time went by, their age and responsibilities became more demanding, so they downsized and relocated to Sun City, TX in Georgetown. Bob and Diane had the opportunity to travel to the holy land, eight countries in Europe, the UK, Canada, and many US states. Bob had a green thumb. He took great pride in his vegetable garden (especially okra and tomatoes) and loved to cook. After living in Sun City for nine years they built another custom home in Cedar Park, TX so Bob’s elderly mother could live with them and to be closer to family. They have been members of the Hill Country Bible Church in Georgetown and Cedar Park for the past 12 years.
For many years Bob volunteered as a little league baseball coach in Alief, on the children’s neighborhood swim team, and distributed food weekly for the Georgetown Meals on Wheels program.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Clara Ricklefsen; his brother, Larry; and infant granddaughter, Ariel Lyn. He is survived by the love of his life for 52 years, Diane of Cedar Park, TX; two sons, Troy Ricklefsen and wife, Rebecca, grandchildren Joel and Hope of Cedar Park, TX; Neil Ricklefsen of Cedar Park, TX, granddaughters, Mary, and Stella of Leander, TX; and other loved extended family members.
Bob and the entire family are forever grateful for the love, prayers, and support of so many family and friends. Bob left his handprint on our hearts and touched the lives of many. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association in memory of Bob Ricklefsen.
Arrangements are under the guidance and care of the Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home in Leander. An intimate graveside service will be held for the immediate family in Houston, TX on January 7, 2022. A memorial service, in celebration of Bob’s life, is to be held at 11am-1pm on Wednesday, January 26th, 2022 in the North Auditorium of Hill Country Bible Church Austin, 12124 Ranch Road 620 N. Austin Texas 78750. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family and enjoy a catered meal. Please refer to the funeral home’s website for updated information at http://www.wcfishleander.com
Please RSVP to 512-599-5322 by January 19th, 2022, if you will be able to attend (or not attend) so meal planning can occur.
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