Is Bob the Senior Cosmopolitan Member?
I contend that Bob Derflinger of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, is the senior member of the Cosmopolitan Club. If you know an elder Cosmopolitan, let all of us know. I visited him on July 14, 2025. On that day Bob was 101 years and two days old, being born July 12, 1924. He is a veteran of World War II (medical corps). He recently flew on an honor flight from the Sioux City airport to Washington, DC. Bob said it was a great time, except that it rained while he was there.
Bob had a memorable weekend. His relatives had a party for him. He watched his church service from home and the members greeted him “over the air.”
Bob spoke of the blessings of being married to Barbara, his first wife. They were together from 1945 to 1980, when she died. Then he married Shirley. She has since died. Bob enjoys his three daughters, his many grand-children and great-grand-children.
Bob first lived in Aurora, Iowa. His first house had no running water and an outhouse. It was a little company town owned by the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. His father attained a job in Waterloo, where Bob graduated from high school. He went to college that is now known as the University of Northern Iowa. He was an engineer for a heating and cooling company. For part of his career, he was on the road working for A. Y. McDonald Company.
Bob is a charter member of the Sioux City Club and proudly displays the plaque presented to him for 55 years of service to the Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club. He is proud of being one of the three charter members in the club (along with Jay Gelfand and Nick Riser).
Bob’s memories of being in the Cosmopolitan Club were assisting in the flag poles constructed at the Sioux City Welcome Center and at a Boy Scout Camp in Nebraska. He also was proud of being a part of the Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club constructing a memorial of Theophile Bruguier, the French-Canadian fur trapper, known as the first permanent European in Sioux City. This memorial was near the statue of Chief War Eagle, a native-American leader of the area. Chief War Eagle was also Bruguier’s father-in-law. He also enjoyed tending to the landscaping at the Siouxland Senior Center. The longtime friendships in the Cosmopolitan Club have been blessings for Bob.
Bob spent many cold Northwestern Iowa winter days in the Cosmopolitan Christmas tree sales lots. Bob noted he had a lonely shift on Wednesdays. And Bob appreciated getting to know all his fellow Cosmopolitan Club members as they huddled to stay warm as they provided Christmas trees for many families and used the proceeds for diabetes causes.
Bob said he is unable to get up early enough to make the 7 am Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club. We, the Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club are blessed with the senior member of the Cosmopolitans at 101 years and two days. We are the envy of every Cosmopolitan Club, not because Bob is over 101 years old, but he is a dedicated member. We are all proud to call Bob “one of Sioux City Cosmopolitan heroes for those who live with diabetes as well as a fellow companion with us to find a cure for diabetes.
Father Michael Erpelding – Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club
I contend that Bob Derflinger of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, is the senior member of the Cosmopolitan Club. If you know an elder Cosmopolitan, let all of us know. I visited him on July 14, 2025. On that day Bob was 101 years and two days old, being born July 12, 1924. He is a veteran of World War II (medical corps). He recently flew on an honor flight from the Sioux City airport to Washington, DC. Bob said it was a great time, except that it rained while he was there.
Bob had a memorable weekend. His relatives had a party for him. He watched his church service from home and the members greeted him “over the air.”
Bob spoke of the blessings of being married to Barbara, his first wife. They were together from 1945 to 1980, when she died. Then he married Shirley. She has since died. Bob enjoys his three daughters, his many grand-children and great-grand-children.
Bob first lived in Aurora, Iowa. His first house had no running water and an outhouse. It was a little company town owned by the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. His father attained a job in Waterloo, where Bob graduated from high school. He went to college that is now known as the University of Northern Iowa. He was an engineer for a heating and cooling company. For part of his career, he was on the road working for A. Y. McDonald Company.
Bob is a charter member of the Sioux City Club and proudly displays the plaque presented to him for 55 years of service to the Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club. He is proud of being one of the three charter members in the club (along with Jay Gelfand and Nick Riser).
Bob’s memories of being in the Cosmopolitan Club were assisting in the flag poles constructed at the Sioux City Welcome Center and at a Boy Scout Camp in Nebraska. He also was proud of being a part of the Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club constructing a memorial of Theophile Bruguier, the French-Canadian fur trapper, known as the first permanent European in Sioux City. This memorial was near the statue of Chief War Eagle, a native-American leader of the area. Chief War Eagle was also Bruguier’s father-in-law. He also enjoyed tending to the landscaping at the Siouxland Senior Center. The longtime friendships in the Cosmopolitan Club have been blessings for Bob.
Bob spent many cold Northwestern Iowa winter days in the Cosmopolitan Christmas tree sales lots. Bob noted he had a lonely shift on Wednesdays. And Bob appreciated getting to know all his fellow Cosmopolitan Club members as they huddled to stay warm as they provided Christmas trees for many families and used the proceeds for diabetes causes.
Bob said he is unable to get up early enough to make the 7 am Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club. We, the Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club are blessed with the senior member of the Cosmopolitans at 101 years and two days. We are the envy of every Cosmopolitan Club, not because Bob is over 101 years old, but he is a dedicated member. We are all proud to call Bob “one of Sioux City Cosmopolitan heroes for those who live with diabetes as well as a fellow companion with us to find a cure for diabetes.
Father Michael Erpelding – Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club
