Robert Herbert Waibel, 80, of Sweet Home, Oregon passed away Monday, December 1. Bob was born to Evelyn (Ennis) and Herbert Waibel in Scotts Mills, Oregon. The family later moved to Brownsville, Oregon where Robert attended and graduated from school.

On September 18, 1957, Bob was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in France and Germany where he was a cook. After leaving the army with an honorable discharge on June 17, 1959, he continued to serve in the reserves rising to the rank of major.

Bob married Estelle Ramona Hyer in June of 1961. The couple remained in Sweet Home and raised their two children. Over the years, they were adventurous and loved to travel, including traveling abroad seeing over 40 countries.

Bob started out working in the logging industry with his father, Herbert, and then, later, Waibel Logging and Weyerhaeuser Co. as a timber faller.

After retiring from the logging industry, Bob’s passion for logging continued as he became involved in and participating in logging shows both locally and abroad to other countries, such as Australia, Canada and Spain on the US team. He competed in ax throwing, horizontal/standing block chop, crosscut, choker setting, hot saw, and tree climbing, where he achieved hundreds of ribbons and first place trophies.

He loved competing in the Albany Timber Carnival. The highlight of his performing was working at the World’s Fair in 1967 in Montreal, Canada. On the logging circuit, Bob liked to be known as the “Rhinestone Logger.”

Bob was always involved in doing something or leading the way. He participated in the Rock and Mineral shows for 50 years and served as club president, Jaycees, Presidents Club, Elks Lodge member, Squarenaders Dance club, reconstructing the Weddle Bridge located at Sankey Park, served on the board of directors for Brownville Museum, Northwest Logging Sports board member, Pioneer Picnic Logging Show, Sportsman Holiday logging shows, Oregon Jamboree volunteer, Tree Commission, and Planning Committee. Bob also became Jr. First Citizen, First Citizen and received the Distinguished Service award at the annual Sweet Home Chamber Banquet. He was also a member of the Sweet Home Evangelical Church.

Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, oil painting, rock hounding, raising Dahlias, garage sales, and being a collector of everything. In his early years, Bob also loved participating in rodeos.

Survivors are: his wife, Mona; daughter, Dawn, and her husband, Bob Dalton, of Sweet Home, Oregon; son, Rob Waibel, and wife, Shannon, of West Linn, Oregon; four grandchildren; one great grandchild; brother, Joe Waibel, of Prineville, Oregon; and sister, Barbara Ann, of Arizona. Bob was preceded in death by his mother, father, and two brothers, Albert (Bud) and James Waibel.

A memorial service is planned for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 13, at Sweet Home Evangelical Church. A private burial service for family will take place at Gilliland Cemetery earlier.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.