Robert Lynn Blackwell, son of Jesse and Alice Gwendolyn (Kalkas) Blackwell, was born on October 5, 1949, in Shenandoah, Iowa. He passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at his home in Shenandoah at the age of 58.

His early life was spent growing up in Imogene, Iowa, where he resided until the age of 17, when he moved to Shenandoah. He attended the Farragut Community Schools, graduating from Farragut High School with the Class of 1967. In the summer of 1968, Robert was united in marriage to Sharon Pritchett at Rock Port, Missouri. Following their marriage they resided in Clarinda, Iowa, before moving to Omaha, Nebraska. Robert later remarried. On June 27, 1980, Robert was united in marriage to Dottie Baker at the Rose Garden in Shenandoah. Robert worked as manager of the Super America Convenience Store in Shenandoah until his health forced him to retire in 1989. Robert loved baseball with his favorite team being the Chicago Cubs. He also enjoyed football, golf, fishing and poker.

Preceding him in death were his grandparents. Survivors include his parents, Jesse and Alice Blackwell of Shenandoah; two sisters, Donna Cross and family of DeSoto, KS and Cherry Gibson and family of Shenandoah; three children, Carrie Weydert and family of Kansas City, MO, and Brian Beery and family of Lenexa, KS and Kasey Stogdill and family of Shenandoah; ten grandchildren; numerous other relatives and friends.