Robert “Bob” Totzke was born in Kitchener on November 6th, 1917 and has spent his life in that area.
He married his charming wife, Martha on August 2nd, 1941 and three children resulted, Marilyn, John and Steve. The elder two are both married and have provided Bob and Martha with two grandsons and two granddaughters.
Bob started work at the Sunshine Waterloo Company in 1936 and remained with them until 1949. He moved up from office boy to payroll clerk to paymaster to Cost Accountant. In 1949, he built Waterloo Lanes where he was Director of the Company and Manager of the centre. In 1965, he purchased Towne Bowl, a 24 lane bowling centre in Kitchener and remains there as owner and President.
Bob has had an exciting and star studded career in bowling. Right from the start of his bowling manager’s career, he organized a month long tournament, sponsored by Molson’s that ran from 1950 to 1972. In one year, 1957, this event had 5700 entries.
Bob Totzke was one of the organizers of the K-W Five Pin Association with the late Orv Bauman and June Gregg and in ensuing years co-hosted the Canadian Five Pin Finals in Kitchener, as well as the B.P.A.O. Convention in that city. He was Chairman of the Canadian Finals for a number of years and also chaired Molson’s Sportsman’s Show in Toronto. He was Zone “C” President for the B.P.A.O. for 15 years and served terms as Treasurer and President of the B.P.A.O.
Bob was active as a coach also and was on the bench for the Canadian five pin championship teams in Vancouver, Calgary and St. Catharines.
He has been Chairman and Treasurer of the 32 team Golden Horseshoe Intercity League for 24 years. As an active bowler, he has been on two Ontario championship teams and has rolled 21 games over 400. His highest average was 255 in 1970. Lately, Bob has taken life easier and spends much time at his cottage near Collingwood. His average has dropped to 235.
Bot Totzke has many other interests outside of bowling, aside from his family. He is an ardent golfer and has had holes in one on two different occasions, and is an active bridge player. He was Concessions Chairman for the Canadian Open Golf Tournament in 1957. At high school, he won letters for football, softball and track and field. He played Junior O.R.F.U., Intermediate and Senior Rugby. Bob served on the Waterloo Baseball Club Executive from 1948-1954.
Robert. J. Totzke has been an active member of his community and has been a contributor for many years. Alert and concerned, Bob is identified with improvements in the image of five pin bowling. A soft spoken, mild mannered man, Bob springs to action when he feels things are being done that downgrade bowling. He is proud to be in bowling, likes the people he has met in the industry and enjoys the kind of life that bowling has been able to provide for him and his family.