‘Bob was the city’ - Community members remember Siouxland restaurant owner, philanthropist Bob Roe

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - Words of remembrance and praise are still pouring in following the death of local restaurateur Bob Roe. Roe died Monday at the age of 85.

Roe was committed to the community, sponsoring sporting events at every level in Sioux City, from Little League to the Explorers. Now, members of the community who knew Roe best are sharing more on the man everyone knew at Bob.

“While the pizza and wings is what brought people together here at Bob Roe’s Point After, it was Bob’s philanthropy and love for the Siouxland community that people remember him for most.

“Bob Roe has been a huge supporter of the Boys and Girls Clubs from way back when it was just the Boys Club,” said Kevin Pottebaum, Resource Development Director for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Siouxland.

Bob Roe loved the Boys and Girls Clubs of Siouxland, supporting their annual auction for years. “The Club was a perfect fit for him,” said Pottebaum. “Athletics and children were kind of the biggest passions of Bob and we saw that firsthand.”

It wasn’t just youth sports. His name was synonymous with the NAIA National Tournaments in Sioux City.

“For somebody to do 26 years of basketball, 16 years of volleyball, softball tournament when we were here, baseball tournament when it was here, you name it, Bob Roe’s name was on it,” said GPAC Commissioner, Corey Westra, who witnessed Bob’s love for the game, firsthand.

“He was not a spotlight guy. He would come to the games at the tournament,” said Westra. “In his later years, he would sit up top away from everybody, but you’d walk by grab his arm. Hi, Bob, how you doing? And he’d always have a great smile”

Bob opened his restaurant to NAIA teams from across the country. It became a “must visit” place for everyone during their time at the tournament.

“I can remember so many times we would talk to teams coming into Sioux City and they would say, Well, I’ve been to Bob Roe’s,” Westra recalled.

At Bob Roe’s Point After, the walls are filled with photos, jerseys and other memorabilia from sports teams near and far. And, a few famous faces, too, like Woody Harrelson and President Barack Obama.

Bob Roe’s Point After sits blocks away from Morningside University, where Bob Roe graduated in 1963.

“It’s a place to gather, and it’s a place where everyone is friends,” said Sioux City City Council member and Morningside University Alum Alex Watters. “I mean, it’s so cliché, right from tears, but it’s very much so where people know your name, and you’re all friends.”

Watters works at Morningside University and says, Bob’s love for Morningside shined when students, faculty, staff and alumni would gather at Point After.

“Of course he was Morningside through and through, but really you saw his heart shine when you think about NAIA in their sponsorship of those teams, and the continued support of so many teams throughout our community,” Watters said.

A friend to all, Bob Roe’s love and support for the Siouxland Community will be felt for decades to come. He sponsored countless youth sports teams, even a few adult leagues too. When an organization needed community support, they went to Bob Roe.

For Capron, her friendship with Roe lasted decades. He helped her launch her own bar and taught her the business.

“He just took me under his wing and and explained everything told me you know, the ins and outs and, and that’s how it started,” she said, “a great friendship.”

Roe may be gone, but his legacy will continue in the Roe family and throughout Siouxland.

“Honestly, I’m not sure that the Boys and Girls Clubs would be here in Siouxland, if it wasn’t for Bob Roe and the lasting legacy that he has left,” said Pottebaum.

Capron agreed, “Bob was the icon, Bob was the city, Bob was community and he showed it in every way, every way that he that he could.”

Services for Bob are scheduled for 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, with family present from 10 to 11 a.m. There will be a Celebration of Life to follow at the Point After right after the services.

With how much Bob Roe has impacted Siouxland, we are gathering stories from Siouxlanders on how Roe affected their lives. If you have a story about Roe you’d like to share, follow this link or fill out the form below.

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