FAYETTEVILLE — Robert Duane “Bob” Groom

passed away Monday, February 26, 2024. Bob was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 7, 1933.

He left Iowa to pursue a career, but never stopped preferring a good piece of Iowa beef and a wellbuttered corn on the cob.

Bob attended the University of Iowa where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and graduated with a degree in marketing. He joined the Air Force after college. Captain Groom was on active duty as a pilot until 1958, but stayed in the reserve until 1971.

Commercial real estate was his lifelong career, beginning with IBM in Denver, then on to several other major real estate corporations on the West Coast. He was a licensed real estate broker in six states and, after moving to Arkansas in 2003, got a seventh license.

Bob loved and was so proud of his three children and spoke often of their many accomplishments. He is survived by Steven Groom (Kathleen), Sarah McDonald (Gary), Randall Groom (Shelly); seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and the love of his life for 39 years, Essie Anderson.

Bob loved music, particularly Broadway tunes, cars, golf, golden retrievers, a good hamburger, and helping his community. He never said no to a man on the street asking for a handout. He was a Mason for 69 years, joining Springdale Lodge #316 when he moved to Fayetteville. As a representative for the Masons, he spent many hours visiting veterans at the VA Hospital. Being retired Bob also gave his time to several organizations in the San Francisco Bay area and in northwest Arkansas: Arkansas Air Museum, Northwest Medical Center, VA Hospital, drove vets to Little Rock for the DAV, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

No services are planned at this time.

A special thank you to the staff of Ciel Senior Living of Fayetteville for their care and attention to Bob for the last two years.

To remember Bob, consider a donation to the local animal shelter, American Diabetes Association, or Guide Dogs for the Blind.

To place an online tribute, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com