Rest in Peace, Bob Tweedy

[kidsmoke]

My heart aches with the news. Rest in Peace, Bob, and peace and every blessing to all those you loved, and who love you. The world is sadder without you here.

Deepest sympathy to Jeff and his family.

[twoshedsjackson]

So sad to hear this. My deepest condolences to all the Tweedys.

[lost highway]

"Please tell my father I love him still

Forget the railroad and all those bills
Head for the cooler
And drink your fill
Please tell my father I love him still"

[theashtraysays]

Condolences to the Tweedy family from all of us here.  We love you guys.

[Vacant Horizon]

So sad. May the Tweedy's claim their space and time to care for themselves and grieve as they will for Bob. Rest in peace great conceiver of musical genius.

[ladyC]

Love and condolences to Jeff and family

 

You are not alone

[Boss_Tweedy]

Very sad. Sending lots of thoughts & prayers out to the Tweedy family for their loss. 

[chuckrh]

Condolences to the family.

[kidsmoke]

Our VC member poppydawn (Robin) lives in Belleville, IL where Jeff grew up and where his dad still lived. Today she was able to visit during visitation hours at the funeral home. She conveyed all our love to the Tweedy family, and signed the guestbook to represent all of us here at Via Chicago. May all our love carry the family through these dark, sad days. Thank you, Robin, for serving as our messenger and delivering our hugs.

From Bob's obituary:

 

Memorials may be made to http://The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society (Team Susan Miller Tweedy) or Belleville Area Humane Society. Condolences may be expressed online at www.kurrusfh.com.

If any of you would like to take part in a group donation, I would be happy to arrange something. Contact me by pm.

[poppydawn]

It was an honor to be able to go on behalf of VC today. Bob passed surrounded by his family, who held him through the very end. In the days leading to his passing at home, he was visited by so many loved ones. Jeff and Spencer played music for him. He left this world knowing how very well-loved and important he was.  

I was acquainted with Bob from living in the same neighborhood. He was a character, a hoot, and a very sweet person. He and I were regulars at the same neighborhood bar and grill. The year "The Whole Love" was nominated for a Grammy, he was adamant about giving the restaurant manager - a friend of mine - one of his tickets to the Grammy's. He was insistent that, because she was a fan, she should have that experience. Logistically, there was no way she could make it happen, but that's how he was. I'm grinning through tears while typing this. I love that story so much. From that, to the time he brought a huge crowd of kids in the Big Brothers & Big Sisters program to see Wilco in St. Louis, to how hard the Tweedys worked to support Jeff when Uncle Tupelo was first getting started ... he was a beautiful person, and it a beautiful soul. 

(Also, I can't believe I somehow remembered my login info.)

[jw harding]

https://youtu.be/thqbrGcvGcg

[remphish1]

It was an honor to be able to go on behalf of VC today. Bob passed surrounded by his family, who held him through the very end. In the days leading to his passing at home, he was visited by so many loved ones. Jeff and Spencer played music for him. He left this world knowing how very well-loved and important he was.

 

I was acquainted with Bob from living in the same neighborhood. He was a character, a hoot, and a very sweet person. He and I were regulars at the same neighborhood bar and grill. The year "The Whole Love" was nominated for a Grammy, he was adamant about giving the restaurant manager - a friend of mine - one of his tickets to the Grammy's. He was insistent that, because she was a fan, she should have that experience. Logistically, there was no way she could make it happen, but that's how he was. I'm grinning through tears while typing this. I love that story so much. From that, to the time he brought a huge crowd of kids in the Big Brothers & Big Sisters program to see Wilco in St. Louis, to how hard the Tweedys worked to support Jeff when Uncle Tupelo was first getting started ... he was a beautiful person, and it a beautiful soul.

 

(Also, I can't believe I somehow remembered my login info.)

Thanks for sharing if Jeff is anything like his dad I'm sure he was an amazing person!

[SarahC]

My heart broke when I saw the news over the weekend. Sending so many good vibes to the Tweedy family. 

 

Thanks for going to represent us all, poppydawn. 

[poppydawn]

Thanks for sharing if Jeff is anything like his dad I'm sure he was an amazing person!

 

Bob was, indeed, wonderful, and he'll be very missed around the neighborhood. About ten years ago he pretty much filled the underage section at a St. Louis show with kids from Big Brothers and Big Sisters. He always came out to Jeff's shows in St. Louis, and they'd always play "Casino Queen" for him because it was his favorite. Two years ago Bob was hospitalized when Wilco played here. He was so bummed to miss the show, so they made a soundboard recording for him. There were lots of cheers for Bob from the crowd through the night. At 81 and three decades into Jeff's career, he was still going to be at the show any way he could. 

 

At the visitation I told the story about my first Bob encounter. It was ten years ago, right after I moved to Belleville. I was at Wilco show in Columbia, MO (2 hour drive from Belleville). About 10 minutes before it started, the crowd literally parted for this big, bright, smiling guy and what can only be called an entourage - all his family and friends who joined him for the show. I overheard that it was Bob, which made sense because they look so much alike. He absolutely loved that atmosphere and had so much fun, and took so much pride in Jeff (and all of his kids and grandkids). He absolutely beamed at the shows.

 

My all-time favorite Bob story: he was a regular at the restaurant that's our neighborhood's gathering spot. I'm friends with the manager, who's also a fan from way back. When Bob found out, he helped her outfit the restaurant with signed Uncle Tupelo album covers, promo posters, and some of Jeff's solo show prints. A few years ago, when Wilco had Grammy nominations for "The Whole Love," he was having his usual Monday lunch at the restaurant the week before the show. He tried to give my friend his ticket to the Grammys. Of course she thought he was joking, but he was dead serious. She refused to take his ticket from him, despite much insisting that he wanted her to go and have that experience. 

 

That's the kind of person he was - he'd give his favorite restaurant manager a ticket to the Grammys, just because he wanted her to have that joy and he had the ability to provide it. 

[Magnetized]

Thank you very much, Poppydawn, for sharing these personal recollections. I remember the first time I saw Bob was in the Ashes of American Flags documentsry at the end when he was talking about how proud he was of Jeff, and you could just see him beaming with pride. And then Jeff, in his typical fashion, said something about not being able to deny that was his dad since they look so much alike. They just exuded such warmth and closeness. And over the years Jeff told so many little vignettes about his dad ("I left your beehind" and imitating his dance moves) that I always felt they must have had a close relationship.

 

Nothing profound to say, just that I know the special sadness of losing your last parent, and my heart goes out to Jeff as I remember that feeling.

[I Assassin Down the Avenue]

I just learned about Bob's recent passing today. Having seen the band in concert during the month of June, I had no idea the Tweedy family was contending with his illness during that time.

 

I enjoyed reading poppydawn's above insights about the man, as well as how much he supported Jeff throughout his career. For that alone, all of us Wilco fans owe this man a great deal of gratitude. I know he must have been so proud getting to see what his son has accomplished and what the band's music has meant to so many people. I am also reminded that I really need to watch that "Ashes of American Flags" documentary.