Kendall “Jack” Robinson

Kendall “Jack” Robinson, 83, passed away in his home August 27, 2018 in Winter Haven, FL. Cremation will take place in Florida where a small private service is planned.

Jack Robinson was born May 3, 1935 in Hanover, IL to Charles and Florence Robinson. After high school graduation, he attended the University of Wisconsin at Platteville in pursuit of an engineering degree. He also played basketball on the freshman team. He would later say, “I was pretty good at basketball, but found out the country is full of guys pretty good at basketball.”

In 1957, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music and an English minor from Coe College, located in Cedar Rapids. Jack performed with the Coe College Symphony Orchestra. One of his fondest college memories was marching with the Coe College Band in President Eisenhower’s 1957 inauguration parade.

Jack married his eighth grade sweetheart, Anne Harris, July 18, 1956. They made their first home in Hazel Green, WI, where he began a long career as an instrumental band director. They would subsequently move to Edgewood and Waukon in Iowa, where he taught for many years. After retiring from teaching, he worked for three years at the Waukon Newspaper as a sports columnist. He followed in his father’s footsteps by spending his last working years self-employed in the painting and staining business.

Jack’s passions included family, music, ballroom dancing, fishing and sports, most notably the Chicago Cubs and Bears. He famously had a love-hate relationship with the game of golf.   Some of his favorite memories involved fishing in Harpers Ferry, listening to brass ensembles and men’s vocal groups, and enjoying a Brandy Old-Fashioned with good friends.

Jack was well known for his integrity, quick wit, sense of humor and a seemingly endless reservoir of quotes from literary notables. His stories and one-liners will live on through his children, grandchildren and friends.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Anne, of Winter Haven, FL; a daughter, Roxanne (Roger) Barsamian, of Arlington, TX; a son, Randy (Kathie) Robinson, of McHenry, IL; a sister, Ruth Landis, of Lansing, MI; his grandchildren: Chelsea (Chris) Maxey of Fort Worth, TX, Matt Robinson of Fishers, IN, Lisa Barsamian of Chicago, IL and Dave Robinson of Chicago, IL; along with many nieces and nephews.