Robert "Bob" Dasenbrock, 85, passed away on October 22, 2026, in Anamosa, Iowa.

Bob was born April 30, 1941, in Dubuque, Iowa, to Roland and Ellen Dasenbrock. The family settled in Anamosa when Roland bought a farm there, and they farmed it for many years.

During Bob's high school years, Roland tried a different career for a few years and moved the family to Missoula, Montana. The family later returned to Anamosa and the farm, while Bob stayed in Montana to attend Montana State University in Bozeman. Aviation was the family's hobby, and Bob and his brother, Fred, both earned their pilot's licenses in high school, following in the footsteps of their dad, Roland, a pilot.

Bob earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Montana State University in 1963, a Master of Science degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Virginia in 1966, and a Ph.D. in Aero and Astro Engineering from Stanford University in 1971.

He began his career at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., in 1971, where he spent a total of 30 years as an aerospace engineer specializing in satellite navigation, orbit determination, and mission planning. He supervised a team of six engineers and contributed to the Navy's Clementine deep space mission and the STS-85 MAHRSI project. His work earned a NavyAward of Merit for Group Achievement, a Navy Unit Commendation, and an NRL Publication Award, and he held a patent for a multi-satellite navigation system. After his retirement from NRL in 1998, Bob continued his work throughm Innovative Concepts Incorporated. He was a member of the American Astronautical Society and the American Institute ofAeronautics and Astronautics.

After spending most of his adult life in Falls Church, Virginia, Bob eventually returned home to Anamosa. Outside of work, he was defined by his love for adventure and the outdoors. He inherited his family’s passion for flight, owning a Navion airplane for a time and later building, flying, and showing off his own custom drones. Bob was equally at home on the water, where he kept a sailboat during his years in Virginia. His favorite playground, however, was the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, where he spent his younger days hiking and skiing before trading his skis for a Jeep to go four-wheel driving. He also loved the relaxation of freestyle cruising with Norwegian Cruise Line.

In his later years, Bob returned to his roots, finding great satisfaction in driving tractors and working on the Dasenbrock and Dirks family farms.

Bob was unassuming and kind, and he never wanted to put anyone out. You could always count on Bob to be wearing black jeans, a button-down plaid shirt, with a baseball hat, usually showing off John Deere or his love of 4-wheeling.

He is survived by his sister, Mary Ellen Eversole of Gainesville, Florida; and his nephews and niece, Jace Dasenbrock, Jemmie Robertson, and Ann Levantovich. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roland and Ellen; his brother, Fred; and his sister, Rosemary.

A public celebration of life will be held Friday, November 13, 2026, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Lubben Vineyards & Wines, 13504 Highway 151, Anamosa, Iowa, with a remembrance at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa, Iowa.