Robert J. Cummins

Robert James Cummins, 68, died unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack on March 23, 2016 at his home in Greeley, Colorado.

Bob was born November 19, 1947 in Marshall, Michigan to Phillip and Joannet (Conley) Cummins. He grew up in Battle Creek, attended Springfield elementary school and graduated from Lakeview High School in 1965.

He served his country admirably and honorably as a Spec 5 in the United States Army driving tanks while stationed in Berlin and Bad Kissingen, Germany, during the Vietnam war era.

Bob is best known locally as the co-founder, along with Dennis O'Connell, of Battle Creek's first premier rock music store, Choker Records, located in the heart of downtown in the 1970s, setting up in the original Clair's Tux Shop on Capital Avenue. He was also instrumental in promoting the early rock concert scene in the area, helping to bring in ZZ Top, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac and Ted Nugent.

Since childhood, Bob was fascinated with native American culture, lore and customs. As a boy, he once fashioned an Indian mohawk headdress out of weeds and natural grasses, just like early American tribesmen did, as described in one of the many books Bob kept on hand, some of which he held on to throughout his life. He also hand-made beautiful willow furniture for himself and friends.

In the mid-1970s Bob left town to start a new life in the Poudre Canyon, outside of Ft. Collins, Colorado in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. He enjoyed life in a small log cabin along the often raging Poudre River, the last un-dammed major waterway in the state. He found work as a chimney sweep, swimming pool inspector and convenience store operator for many years before discovering a wonderfully satisfying job as the maintenance mechanic for homes for battered women and children, first in Loveland and then in Ft. Collins.

He was devoted to his family, even giving up an ideal living arrangement in Ft. Collins to move back to Battle Creek and assist his siblings with taking care of his aging father. In the fall of 2014, he moved to Greeley and was negotiating terms to purchase another property in the Poudre Canyon when he passed away.

He was preceded in death by his mother. He is survived by his father, brothers Thomas, of Grand Rapids, and David (Margo) and sister Mary (Tim) Mix of Battle Creek. He was also the adopted “Uncle Bob” to the family of Dan and Cheree Carlson of Loveland, Colorado, teaching their daughter, Kayden, 13, about the wonders of the historic American west and son, Mason, 9, to play the guitar.

In lieu of flowers, Bob would have preferred you to give your time or resources to the charity or cause that your heart leads you to, and then sit back with your favorite music and develop a plan to reach your dreams.