Robert Carroll Reidmeyer

Robert Carroll Reidmeyer, age 94, of Hannibal, Missouri, passed away at 12:23 AM Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Hannibal Regional Hospital, surrounded by his family.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Arch United Methodist Church in Hannibal, Missouri.  Pastor Stacie Williams will officiate.  Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery in Hunnewell, Missouri. Full Military Honors will be provided by Emmett J Shields, American Legion Post 55.

Visitation celebrating Bob’s life will be held 1:00 PM until time of the service Saturday at Arch United Methodist Church.

The family is being served by Smith Funeral Home & Chapel of Hannibal.

Bob was born in Elkhart, Indiana on November 20, 1930, the only child of Archie and Virginia (Landrum) Reidmeyer.

He was united in marriage to Nellie Ruth (Hall) Reidmeyer on August 12, 1951, in Kirksville, Missouri. She preceded him in death in 2021, 6 weeks shy of their 70th anniversary.

He is survived by his three children, Mark (Mary) Reidmeyer of Rolla, Missouri, Carole (Dan) Martin of Kingsport, Tennessee; and Phyllis (Mike) Painting of Independence, Missouri.  He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Liz Rothove, Andrew Reidmeyer, Cara Copple, Matt Martin, Melanie Scott, Erica Painting and Justin Painting as well as thirteen great-grandchildren and brother-in-law, Henry (Peggy) Hall of LaPlata, Missouri.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, his uncles, L.M. Landrum, Jr. and Robert Landrum, and his cousin Ginni Koenig.

Bob graduated from Hunnewell High School in 1948. He said he was in the top 10 in his class (there were 7 in the class). He grew up in and around northeast Missouri and western Illinois, moving from place to place as Archie found work in numerous fields.

He attended college in Kirksville, Missouri, at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University) where he studied to be a teacher of industrial arts.  He switched majors and graduated with a degree in business administration.

After receiving deferrals until graduation, he then had 30 days to enlist. He chose to enlist in the Air Force in 1951. He picked the Air Force, because, in his words, it seemed the least dangerous.  In between graduating with his BA, Bob and Nell got married before he reported to basic training. He was honorably discharged after completing four years of service. Upon discharge, he and Nell returned to Kirksville for Bob to finish a second degree on the GI bill in business education and also to start their family.

After graduation, Bob took a job in Jefferson City with Vocational Rehabilitation, doing disability determinations for Social Security Administration.  In 1960, that led to a job with Social Security in the Hannibal District office, to a transfer to Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1968 and to Independence, Kansas in 1970, with Nell and three children in tow.  In 1973, he returned to Hannibal, now as the District Manager.  He retired from Social Security in 1988.

Bob was a faithful member of Arch United Methodist Church for over 60 years, serving in various capacities.  He was a member of Rotary Club and Kiwanis International.  He was a faithful Red Cross Blood donor, donating over 15 gallons of blood over many, many years.

Bob was a woodworker and builder.  He and Nell built two houses, and he made significant improvements to every house they had. He liked to ponder and think things through before taking action.

He loved his family and always wanted to know what was going on in their lives, asking for specific details.  His mind was sharp until the very end.  He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was delighted to be around family and friends.

He took excellent care of Nell in her final decline and remained stubbornly, if not fully, independent until the end of his life.

He lived and loved to serve others, living his faith out loud.  He will be greatly missed.

The family is deeply grateful to friends and neighbors who visited him regularly, bringing treats and conversations to brighten his day. The family would also like to thank Community Loving Care Hospice, staff at Beth Haven and Pleasant View.  The family especially thanks the doctors and nursing staff at Hannibal Regional for their care of Bob at the end.

Pallbearers will be Bob’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to Arch United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund, to Mark Twain Behavioral Health, or to an organization of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be made to the family and video tribute viewed on Bob’s memorial page at www.smithfuneralhomeandchapel.com