Robert “Bob” Kolb, age 96, of Watertown, SD, passed away October 14, 2018 in Watertown. Memorial services will be at Wight and Comes Funeral Chapel, 1111 4th Street NE, Watertown, SD at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 19, 2018. Reverend Steve Anderson will officiate. There will be no visitation. Robert Leroy Kolb was born March 26, 1922 to Clarence and Bertha (Gerhardt) Kolb at Big Stone City, South Dakota. He grew up in the Big Stone/Ortonville area, graduating from Big Stone High School in 1940. He was employed at Big Stone Canning Factory prior to attending North Center College in Naperville, Illinois. He was active in sports, especially swimming and aviation and received his private pilot license in 1942. Bob enlisted in the Air Force upon the attack at Pearl Harbor. He served as a pilot of a B 24 Heavy Bomber and flew 27 missions in the European Theatre from 1942 to 1944. Bob was awarded an Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, African Middle Eastern Service Medal and Presidential Citation. Following his honorable discharge, he returned and finished college. In 1946 he was employed by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks as a conservation officer in Deuel and Hamlin counties. While living in Clear Lake he was active in coaching, boxing, baseball, and served as chairman of parades. Bob also owned and operated motels in Clear Lake and Big Stone City. He married Dorothy Juhnke. After serving 15 years as a conservation officer, he was promoted to the land acquisition division and moved to Watertown. He was later promoted to chief of the Land Acquisition and Appraisal Division. He worked for SD Game, Fish and Parks for 35 years and was instrumental in purchasing a large percentage of the public access, fishing access, and park lands in South Dakota. He later married Margaret “Marge” (Possail) Murphy on August 22, 1981 in Mobridge, South Dakota. Bob enjoyed golfing, fishing, woodworking and antiques. He was a member of the 9th Avenue Methodist Church and Cornerstone Church, Ducks Unlimited, Kiwanis, Elks, Izaac Walton League, Citizens for Big Stone Lake, Sportsman Club, Commander of the American Legion in Clear Lake and a member of Codington County American Legion Post 17. Bob is survived by his wife, Margaret of Watertown, SD; his daughters, Patricia (Rick) Hustead of Wall, SD and Kathleen Kolb of Rapid City, SD; three step children, Kimberley (Curt) Mortenson of Fort Pierre, SD, Kathy (Curt) Horkey of Sioux Falls, SD and Kevin Murphy of Elk Grove, CA; 1 grandchild; 8 step grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and 3 step great-grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ronald and Virginia Kolb and Kenneth and Georgia Kolb; sister Verla, and sister and brother-in-law Arlys and Luane Welde. In lieu of flowers please direct memorials to Prairie Lakes Hospice, Attn: Hospice Dept., 401 9th Ave. NW, Watertown, SD 57201 or Codington County Pro Pheasants, P.O. Box 1952, Watertown, SD 57201.