May 30, 1936 ~ April 15, 2026
Robert C. Klenda (Bob), 89, of Kimball, Nebraska, passed away on April 15, 2026, after a short and courageous battle with cancer. Born May 30, 1936, in Marion County, Kansas, to Clement and Emma Klenda, Bob was guided from his earliest years by a love for the Lord and the values of faith, hard work and devotion to family that would define his remarkable life.
On Sept. 8, 1962, Bob married Anna Marie Serve, and together they built a life devoted to one another. Through more than six decades of marriage, they shared life’s joys and weathered its challenges side by side. Blessed with six children, the family they raised together remains the greatest testament to the life Bob lived.
Bob is survived by his wife, Anna, and their six children: Mike (Kristen) of Fort Morgan, Colorado; Greg (Tracy) of Bushnell, Nebraska; Leslie (Dick) of Torrington, Wyoming; Jennifer (Justin) of Conifer, Colorado; David of Alliance, Nebraska; and Jeff of Pine, Colorado; brother Richard (Margie); five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two nephews; and three nieces. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Clement and Emma Klenda; his brother, Donald; and granddaughter Avery.
Bob grew up on a farm in Kansas, listening to stories from his grandfather about rail carloads of wild horses shipped in from the West, horses he would break to harness and then sell to the neighbors. Bob developed a deep love of ranching and cowboying that never left him. He first encountered leather carving in high school, but it was an Army craft shop that gave him his start. That initial spark led to a lifelong passion for the trade.
In 1957, Bob moved to the rugged canyon country of eastern Utah. It was here, among ranchers and cowboys around Green River, that Bob found the next chapter of his life. He met cowboys who would become lifelong friends; they taught him about range cowboying and instilled in him an appreciation for top-quality saddles and equipment. The history of this canyon country, as well as western Colorado, whetted his appetite to become a saddle maker.
While saddle making was not Bob’s only occupation, he also spent more than 20 years working as a water commissioner for the state of Colorado. The work suited him well; he was able to get away from the desk and out of the shop into the open. He especially relished the days spent on horseback, following the waterways up to the reservoirs, where the wide-open country reminded him of the life he had always loved. In balancing water management with his artistry in leather, Bob proved that a life well-lived could be built on more than one calling.
Over the decades, Bob became a master craftsman whose work earned national respect. His artistry and dedication were recognized with numerous honors in the leathercraft world, a few of which include the Howard Munsell Award for the promotion of the art of saddle making, the Al Stohlman Award for Achievement in Leathercraft, and the Academy of Western Artists’ Saddle Maker of the Year. Most recently, one of his saddles is currently on display at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Art Museum in Washington, D.C., as part of an exhibit celebrating the great American tradition of state fairs, a testament to the excellence of his craft.
He had a heart for teaching and mentoring others and generously shared his knowledge with anyone eager to learn. Countless hours were spent responding to emails and phone calls, answering questions and assisting those who contacted him. As a longtime contributor to the Leather Crafters Journal, he shared his expertise through years of published articles that reached craftsmen around the world. He was a 4-H leathercraft leader for more than 30 years, mentoring countless young people and encouraging their creativity and craftsmanship. He also spent many years involved with the Colorado Saddle Makers Association as a leader and teacher, a place where he found the joy of helping others grow in the trade he loved.
As a husband, father and “Opa” (grandpa), he lived his life shaped by steadfast faith and a deep love for the Lord, always striving to be a quiet beacon of that faith. Time with family was his greatest joy, whether gathered for a cookout, heading out on a Jeep trip or horseback ride into the mountains, or helping with a remodeling project. He always looked forward to spring, when it was branding time, and enjoyed the time spent checking on the cattle.
Those early influences — the farm, the horses, the cowboys, the leather — shaped a man whose hands could build, repair, carve and create, and whose heart remained humble, generous and steady. Bob’s life was a testament to craftsmanship, curiosity, quiet strength, unwavering love and deep dedication to his family. His faith, love for the Lord and steadfast presence touched every life he entered. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on through the family he cherished: his wife, Anna; his children; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren, who will carry his love forward for generations to come. He will be profoundly missed and forever remembered.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Meeker, Colorado.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” — Matthew 25:23
