Robert Colby

PRINCETON — Robert “Bob” Atlee Colby, 67, of Princeton, passed away Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Bob was born May 20, 1947, in Spring Valley to Denise "Bessie" and Lewis "Bunny" Colby. He graduated from Hennepin High School in 1965 and graduated from Mid-State College in Peoria in 1967.

Bob sold insurance and farmed before he and his brothers bought and operated the Indian Valley Inn in Tiskilwa from 1985 to 1996. In 1990 Bob, Dan and Rick Colby enlisted help from local individuals and built Indian Hills Golf Club. Bob managed the golf course until Sept. 30, 2014. He enjoyed a lifetime of hunting with his buddies and his son, Rob, starting a local Big Buck contest when he ran the Indian Valley Inn.

Bob is survived by his wife, Susan Poff Frank Colby, whom he married on March 5, 1994; his children, Laura (Machen) MacDonald of Grass Valley, Calif., Jeanette (Matt) Angell of Grass Valley, Calif., Rob (Trudi) Colby of Princeton, Jennifer (Chris) Dabbs of Lynn Haven, Fla., and Christa (Jamie) Balensiefen of Princeton; his grandchildren, Drake MacDonald, Brynley Colby, Shane MacDonald, Miranda Sorenson, Erika Sorenson, Jocelyn Dabbs, Adriane MacDonald, Tabitha Angell, Kirstyn Balensiefen, James Balensiefen Jr. and Harmony Angell. He is also survived by his brother, Rick (Nancy) Colby of Waukeshaw, Wis.; two sisters-in-law, Betty (John) Colby-Brokaw of Tiskilwa and Sandi Colby of Montgomery, Texas; special cousins, Jan Jais of Tiskilwa and Carol  (Terry) Donahue of Morris; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by his father in 1993; his mother in 2001; a brother, Jerry, in 1990; a sister-in-law, Bonnie Colby, in 1991; a brother, Dan, in 2010; and a grandson, Maxxwel Colby-Gerard, in 2004.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at the Fiocchi-Jensen Funeral Home in Princeton with Deacon John Murphy officiating. Interment will be in Elm Lawn Memorial Park in Princeton. A luncheon will be held at Indian Hills Golf Club following the services.

Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Jim Lewis, Brian Lewis, Jim Madsen, Tom Bickett, Chad Colby and Jonathan Colby.