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Robert "Bob" Baldus from Polk City Iowa passed away

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phil c:

--- Quote from: Sina Goudarzi on January 30, 2021, 09:52:12 PM ---It's indeed a very sad news,

sina


--- End quote ---

When I lived in St. Paul Bob, and his young friend both came up for contests.  Flew Combat and PA with their his innovative sideways handle  He flew a Guillotine very effectively.  Did very well, too at both.  Never did get a picture of it.

Jerry Eichten:
Bob's young friend might have been Bill Miller.  I remember them both from contests in Minneapolis and Des Moines in the 70's.  They flew some awesome combat matches with those Guillotines.  Slow, but with flaps that model could really turn tighter than everything else.  I watched him in a noteworthy combat match at the Glenview Nats in '72 that raised a question over how many cuts were awarded. 

Bill flew lots of stunt. I don't remember Bob being deeply into stunt but he had a nice scale B-25. I reconnected with Bob Baldus via facebook within the last year after not seeing him for over 40 years.  I thanked him for the work he put into contests in Iowa years ago, and for letting me and a couple pals sleep at his house when we came down from Minnesota.   

Fair skies Bob.

James Lee:
Jim Ricketts sent me this letter to post.

A lifelong member of The Academy of Model Aeronautics,  AMA # 651, and a model aviator for roughly 75 years, Bob Baldus, of Windsor Heights, Iowa died on January 26, 2021 at the age of 82. 

Bob was not only my friend, but was my mentor in model aviation.  When I was 11, he found me at a local park trying to fly my ½ A control line airplane.  He showed me how to run the engine and fly.  That was the start of a 65 year friendship and model aviation experience.  We were still flying together and discussing building and flying just before his passing.  Bob competed on the local, regional and national levels.  Mostly flying control line stunt, combat and scale.  He has been a contest director for at least 50 years.

Bob taught technical education at Amos Hiatt Junior High School in Des Moines, Iowa.  He built street rods and spent many days at car shows, mostly showing his ’49 Ford which is an amazing car second to none.  He also enjoyed NASCAR, a round of golf, and was a prolific watercolor painter.
 
A graduate of Iowa State University, he was seldom seen without his ISU hat or shirt!  He was a member of the Mid-Iowa Control Line Model Airplane Club and when he was not flying at the club field in Polk City, Iowa, you would find him on the mower grooming the flying circles.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife Jane and is survived by his four children, 12 grandchildren, several great grandchildren, Brother Jerry, Sister Mary Kay and several nieces and nephews.

Everyone in model aviation should have the opportunity to meet someone like Bob.  I can truly say my model aviation was not only shaped but also guided by my mentor and friend Bob Baldus.
 
Bob leaves behind many friends not only in the model aviation hobby, but all those he taught and guided through 38 years of teaching.  Keep your lines tight, Bob.

Jim Ricketts
AMA 5884, Leader Member, AMA Fellow

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