Robert "Grandpa Pooh" Louis Linenweber

This was one of Dad's favorite things to either say or respond and embodies his love for both Mom and my big brother, Doug, who welcomed him to heaven. Doug started it, and Dad continued it to keep his love for Doug alive. Mom had the philosophy that you leave your heavenly home to be on Earth, and when your job here is done, you get to go back home. So I now imagine Dad returning to heaven to say to Mom and Doug, "See, I came right back." We, too, will be right back to our heavenly home when our work here is done. In the meantime, we'll hold our love for Dad dearly in our hearts until we see him again. 

 

Known as Grandpa Pooh because his beard was soft like Pooh Bear, Robert Louis Linenweber of Garland, Texas, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2026. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 9, 1944, to Robert Henry Linenweber and Rosetta Louise Snarr. He grew up on a dairy farm just outside Winfield, Missouri, with his older sister, Rebecca Louise Linenweber, and was run by his mother and stepfather, Herman Hackman. Before graduating in 1962, some of the highlights of his high school years at Winfield High include riding around town in the black '57 Chevy Bel Air of his best friend, Danny “Mouse” Alan Broyles. Following his mother’s death in 1964, Robert enlisted in the Air Force and studied refrigeration. While stationed in Rapid City, South Dakota, he met and married Elsie Lavern Oster in 1966. Once his service ended, he moved his family to Texas for employment. With his wife’s encouragement, he studied for and obtained his Thermo King certification, opening up more opportunities to raise his family comfortably in Garland, Texas.   

 

For Robert, Jesus was the authority over his life with his family being the most important aspect after his faith. With the unusual snow fall in Texas, he would take a rare day off from work to create memories with his children and later grandchildren. From Pinewood derby cars to Girl Scout Sock Hops and baptisms to confirmations, he enjoyed celebrating important milestones. But he also enjoyed the small daily moments like always having a pocket of quarters for the grandkids to ride the horse in front of Ponchos. Just make sure before you raised the flag, you got him plenty of fresh cut onions for his cheese enchiladas. 

 

As empty nesters, Robert and Lavern enjoyed being active in local and state politics, even driving to Washington DC to visit with Sam Johnson in person. They also loved traveling around the nation to see such treasures as the Red Wood Forest and the Puebloan cliff dwellings. Weekends often found them dancing, typically at a local country western joint. If you’ve ever seen Robert dance to Mustang Sally, you knew what a joyous experience it was for him. One of his most extraordinary adventures was visiting his oldest son, Douglas, when he lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It’s no surprise he visited a refrigeration transportation fleet and learned how they did his life’s work. Upon retiring, he helped his daughter create one of the gems of downtown Garland that sparked that revitalization, The Generator Coffee House. Yet, Robert always made time to walk with his youngest grandchild to visit the fountain and tossing in pennies with wishes and stories.  

 

Robert is preceded in death by his parents, step-father, wife, oldest son, Douglas Ray Linenweber, granddaughter, Samantha Scheidt, and best friend, Mouse. He is survived by his sister, his youngest son, Ronald Jay Linenweber, daughter, Tammy Annette Linenweber, two nieces, ten grandchildren, and many beautiful great-grandchildren. 

 

While we all miss Robert terribly, he wouldn’t want us to stay sad. He wants us to see him running free; strong and fully restored (with all his hair) in the presence of our Savior. To honor him, we will be visiting the classic car show by the Mustang Sally Production company on April 26th at the Gas Monkey Icehouse in The Colony between 11am and 3pm. After which we will have a come and go Celebration of Life with food, a slideshow, and sharing of our favorite memories at Intrinsic Brewery in downtown Garland from 3-5 pm. Once the grief passes a little more, we plan to gather at Southern Junction in Royce City for free dance lessons and kicking up some dust on the dance floor on June 18th. 

 

Late June or early July, his daughter, Tammy, and youngest grandchild will be traveling to South Dakota and stopping by Missouri on the way for those that weren’t able to come to Texas. To stay current with any changes in celebrations and leave your own cherished thoughts, continue to visit this page and interact with the latest updates.