Robert “Bob” Lon Solomonson
Robert Lon (Bob) Solomonson, a gentle soul and all around great man, passed away peacefully at the age of 63, from a Primary Grade 4 Glioblastoma, a very aggressive brain Tumor, Oct. 23, 2020 at his home in Mesa, Ariz.
He was born in 1957 in Forest City, the son of Leslie and Elaine Solomonson.
Bob graduated from Lake Mills High School in the Class of 1975. Following graduation he attended Northeast Iowa Community College, Calmar, and graduated with an Associate’s degree in Auto Mechanics in the Class of 1977.
Bob returned to Lake Mills and in 1978, he opened his business as owner/operator of Lake Mills Auto Body. In 1985, he closed his business and moved to Mesa, Ariz., where he worked as an estimator at Kingswood Collision and as General Manager of Kales Collision.
Bob met his wife, Cynthia (Cindy) Rayman, the “love of his life” in Mesa, only to find out that they grew up 18 miles apart on the Iowa/Minnesota border. They were together 32 years and lovingly raised four children—Jennifer and Brian from a previous marriage, and two children they shared, Inga and Robert.
In 1995, Bob and Cindy opened Mainstreet Collision Center, Inc. with friend and business partner, William G. Baum, and were the first collision center in Arizona to sell to the consolidator The Boyd group in the year 2000. He stayed on as general manager until March of 2005. Bob had a passion for the collision industry and an entrepreneurial spirit and remained involved in various aspects until his diagnosis in April of 2019 for a total of 41 years.
He enjoyed so many things, like working in his shop, hanging out and talking with friends, restoring old tools and equipment, metal work, mowing the lawn, camping, quading, canoeing, cooking, country music, (festivals) and entertaining.
He loved traveling America, road trips, his dog, his family and his “true love,” Cindy. He had exceptional mental strength, a quick wit, always bringing laughter and his warm and genuine affection for people won the hearts of many.
Bob is survived by his wife, Cindy, Mesa, Ariz.; daughter, Jennifer Solomonson, and partner, Jason Poston, and their two children, Waylon and Whitley; son, Brian (Marcy), Queen Creek, Ariz., their seven children, Cheyenne, Erika, Noah, Brody, Wyatt, Audrey, and Odin; daughter, Inga Solomonson, and fiancé Taz Tavita, Mesa, Ariz.; and son, Robert (Amy), Mesa, Ariz.; and their three children, Lilly, Ryker, and Dax; sister, Mary Anderson, Coon Rapids, Minn.; father-in-law, Raymond (Sharon) Rayman; brother-in-law, David Rayman (Rio Brickley); and a long list of sisters- and brothers-in law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
