Robben John Love
Well known and respected community volunteer Robben John “Robbie” Love died unexpectedly Sunday, Aug. 3rd at the age of 70. His talents, energy, accomplishments, and good-natured personality were an inspiration to everyone who knew him or heard of his efforts to improve the life of this community.
Robbie grew up in the Minnesota/Grand Forks ND area where he met and married his wife of 50 years, Pamala Jean. Interest in sports led to opening a Sporting Goods store that featured RC Airplanes & supplies, Diving Gear and instruction, shooting supplies and a trap shooting field. Possessing a Commercial/Instrument Pilot’s license Robben managed the Grand Forks branch of Crookston Aviation where his responsibilities included aircraft rental, maintenance, and test flights. He ferried new aircraft deliveries and was also a crop duster.
Rob brought his love of flying with them to the Bullhead City area to the Roney Bristol Memorial Radio-Controlled airfield where Rob trained hundreds of local and winter visitors to fly Radio Controlled Aircraft.
Being seriously involved in shooting sports he was instrumental in the planning and development of Tri-State Shooting Park. A Charter member, Robben became a Board member in 2011 and President from 2014 onward. Love’s efforts in the growth of the shooting park were extensive and exhausting. These involved writing improvement grants, coordinating with AZ Game & Fish, overseeing construction projects, presenting competitions and instruction, providing general facility maintenance, and managing daily operations.
Everyone relied on Rob’s experience and knowledge. But he was best known for his ability to coordinate all work parties by enslaving members, friends, relatives, and anyone else to freely give of their time, money, and labor for countless hours of sweat and tears, to boil in the mid-day desert sun while digging trenches, raking rock, preparing food, building tables, grading roads, stocking clays, keeping score, etc., etc., also to willingly run, fetch, and carry! And he was admired for it!
Rob, while enjoying a zest for life, had an unusual ability to bring out the best in people and help them enjoy life as much as he did. In Rob’s own recently written words: “Since the opening of Tri-State I have met some of the greatest people and made some of the closest friends of my life!”
Being recognized beyond the local community, in 2018 Rob Received the Arizona Game & Fish Volunteer of the year award. In May 2025 Tri-State Shooting Park received the AZ Game & Fish Commissioners Award.