Robert Roy “Bob” Zeman, of Groesbeck, passed away at Ascension Providence Hospital in Waco on Monday, April 27, 2026, at age 86.

Visitation will be held at Groesbeck Funeral Home on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor John Zamudio of the First Methodist Church of Groesbeck officiating. Burial will follow in Faulkenberry Cemetery Masonic rites and U.S. Army military honors.

Pallbearers will be Zackery Zeman, Big Paul Coffee, Little Paul Coffee, Bradley Matthys, Brent Matthys, Richard Lambert, and Robert Lambert.

Honorary pallbearers will be Brock Zeman, Mason Zeman, Carl Coffee, Gordon Vogel, Bill White, Jeff Henneman, Doug Rye, Duke Compton and Jim Mangum.

Bob was born on June 15, 1939, to Anton and Rose Zeman in Chicago, IL. He grew up in Chicago (as he said “in the hood” which was required for safety) and graduated from Lane Tech High School, Class of 1957.

Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1958, and was stationed at Camp Hanford in Richland, Washington until his honorable discharge on March 18,1960.

During his service in Washington, he met Mary Alice Coffee, by providing a ride home for Mary and her date in a car borrowed from a friend. Later, he went looking for her house, and after knocking on various doors, he found her mother (Granny Coffee) and stayed visiting with her until Mary came home from another date. His persistence paid off, as they married six months later.

Bob and Mary were united in marriage on March 19, 1960, the day after he was out of the Army, although he was so broke, he had to wear his military clothes with holes in the shoes. They moved in with his mother in Chicago, and Mary said she had to “learn” about living in a family with “huggers and kissers.”

In 1967, Mary and Bob moved to Texas where Mary had previously lived, because they did not want to raise children in Chicago. They first settled in Waco and then moved to Groesbeck. Bob worked at Varo in Mexia, then at John Deere in Groesbeck, and then worked as manager for NBC – National Building Co. in Groesbeck. Later, he sold life insurance for Reliable Life in Groesbeck and then worked at the Mexia State School until retiring. He was involved with his children’s activities and coached Little League baseball.

Bob’s standard greeting to anyone was “You look fantastic, how do I look?” He never met a stranger, and most ladies were greeted with a hug and kiss, on the forehead or hand after removing his hat. He had a fantastic, ridiculous sense of humor and always had a story or joke. He liked to say “Let me tell you a true story” but also said his long nose was because he was President of the Liar’s Club. He was never short of humor and always took time to share something fun or interesting. Bob also had a tender heart and would cry at a funeral or a wedding or a baptism.

Bob and Mary were big participants in the Red Stocking follies, acting in many of the skits. Bob served on the Groesbeck City Council and the EDC board. He was a dedicated promoter for Groesbeck and the local businesses. He thought the Groesbeck Journal couldn’t come out without him and took donuts to the staff on Wednesdays, when he picked up copies to take to his family. When he met anyone new in town, he would offer to drive them around on a tour and take them to eat and give a 50 cent tour of his garage.

Garage sales were his hobby. They were a way to meet, befriend and chat with people – he might joke that he liked to find a bargain for something to sell for a profit, and he did accumulate a lot of things in his garage, but in fact what he really loved to do was to have on hand just what he thought someone else might need and give it to them.

The Zemans had a beautiful yard – Mary said he was a master gardener, composter, and landscaper – but actually she was the master and he was her servant, happily carrying out her wishes – and not just in the yard.

Bob called his family and friends to notify them about any dangerous weather. After Mary’s death, he called the family by 9:30 every morning for “proof he was alive” and even in the hospital, he kept his consistent practice of calling the grandchildren on Sunday.

He enjoyed many happy hours the last few years with his dear friend, Beverly Bozeman, going together to garage sales, church, Billy B’s to eat, and watching Oak Island on Tuesday.

Bob was a friend to all – if you weren’t his friend it was because he hadn’t found you yet. He was a unique man who will be fondly remembered by many and forever missed by his family and friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law, Sally Coffee and other of Mary’s family; his brother, Harold Palash in 2015 (who he brought from Chicago so they would be buried next to each other in Groesbeck); his beloved wife of 56 years, Mary Alice Zeman, in 2016; and his sister, Gloria Dahl.

He is survived by his children, who all live in Groesbeck: Robin and David Cable, Mark Zeman and Karen, and Dale and Lynn Zeman. His grandchildren are: Morgan and Jeff Henneman and their children, Ava and Isabel of Cypress, Roseanna Cable of Rosharon, Sterling and Meghan Cable of Cypress, Brock Zeman of Reston, VA, Mason Zeman of Teague, Zackery Zeman of Huntsville, and Presleigh Zeman of Teague.

He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Carl Coffee of Teague; and his girlfriend, Beverly Bozeman of Groesbeck.

In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest donations in honor of Bob to the Groesbeck Women’s Club, or First Methodist Church of Groesbeck.