When Stout alumni football players from the late 1950s to early 1960s get together and talk about their college football coach, they don't talk about the wins and losses - they talk about the experiences. And heading up that experience was Bob Bostwick, who coached the Blue Devil football program from 1958–63. Bostwick came to Stout from Ft. Dodge, Iowa, High School, and started to turn a program that was hurting around. Although Bostwick's Stout teams never earned a conference champion, Bostwick laid some groundwork in the Blue Devil program. Words like "team" and "visionary" were used to describe Bostwick, by his former players. Bostwick, who was named the 1962 Stout Outstanding Teacher of the Year, recruited or coached several athletes who are already in Stout's Hall of Fame, including Glenn Harke, Duane Ramberg, Dick Baker, Dick Frederickson, Pat Kroll, Gay Herbert and John Zuerlein. Several of Bostwick's players went on to provide a solid base for Stout's 1965 conference championship team. Bostwick left Stout to pursue a career in sales in Iowa, but returned to education after three years and became a teacher, principal and superintendent before retiring in 1992.


Complete Bob Bostwick Obituary 

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (November 20, 2018) - When Stout alumni football players from the late 1950s to early 1960s get together and talk about their college football coach, they don't talk about the wins and losses - they talk about the experiences. And heading up that experience was Bob Bostwick, who coached the Blue Devil football program from 1958–63. Bostwick passed away Nov. 12.

A native of Iowa, Bostwick came to Stout State College in 1958 from Ft. Dodge, Iowa, High School, and started to turn a Blue Devil program that was hurting around.

Although Bostwick's Stout teams never earned a conference champion, Bostwick laid some groundwork in the Blue Devil program. Words like "team" and "visionary" were used to describe Bostwick, by his former players.

Bostwick, who was named the 1962 Stout Outstanding Teacher of the Year, recruited or coached several athletes who are already in Stout's Hall of Fame, including Glenn Harke, Duane Ramberg, Dick Baker, Dick Frederickson, Pat Kroll, Gay Herbert and John Zuerlein. Several of Bostwick's players went on to provide a solid base for Stout's 1965 conference championship team. Bostwick joined many of his former players when he was inducted into the UW-Stout Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

Bostwick left Stout to pursue a career in sales in Iowa, but returned to education after three years and became a teacher, principal and superintendent before retiring in 1992. 

Bostwick was born Jan. 31, 1927, in Washington, Iowa,  attended and graduated from Washington High School with a great love of all sports.  After graduation he joined the Merchant Marines and was based in New Orleans.  After his term was up he enrolled at the University of Iowa where he lettered in football and played junior varsity basketball.

Following graduation from Iowa, Bob served in the Air Force and then returned to the University of Iowa to obtain his master's degree in secondary education.

His love of football led him to coaching jobs in East Peoria, Illinois, Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Stout State. He finished his years in education as a principal of West Branch High School in Iowa, and then principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent at College Community Schools, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Coach Bostick is survived by his wife, Janet Ruth, and daughter, Kerry Ann Bostwick, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, sons, Michael Bostwick, (Yukari) Yugawara, Japan, and Rick, Iowa  City, Iowa; grandsons, Dennis (Leslie) Denver, Colorado, and Christopher (Cathy) of Madison, Wisconsin. Three great grandchildren:  Claire Bostwick, Georgia Bostwick, and Harrison Henry Bostwick.

A memorial celebration was held Nov. 19 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Memorial gifts may be given to the Tuesday Noon Optimist Foundation, the College Community Schools Foundation, or the Shueyville United Methodist Church Foundation.