Rapid City - Robert Merle Steele passed away on Saturday, January 14th, 2012 at age 67. Robert (Bob) was born on December 30, 1944 in Ree Heights, South Dakota. He lived there until the age of five, when his family moved to Rapid City. Throughout his childhood, Bob could be found riding horses, spending summers on a guest ranch, working for the family business, or getting into mischief. Bob was an entrepreneur at heart and from an early age was anxious to get started in the world. After graduating from high school and sampling various institutions of higher learning, as well as a brief stint at the Homestake Goldmine, he embraced his entrepreneurial passion and opened his first business, an Aamco transmission shop. He soon had two shops and knew he had found his calling. In 1974, he moved from transmissions to restaurants and was one of the original Taco Johns franchisees. Over the next 30 years, Bob was instrumental in the expansion of Taco Johns and other concepts throughout the Midwest including, Subway, Burger King and Godfathers Pizza. Bob was proud to be from the Black Hills and gave a tremendous amount of his time and energy to the Rapid City community. He was a 12-year member of the YMCA Board and spent his time helping raise funds to expand its programs and improve its facilities. Thirty years ago he helped found the Rapid City midget football league, which is still going strong today. Bobs biggest impact was on his family. A man of integrity, optimism, selflessness and humor, he showed all of these characteristics in his devotion to his wife and children. He enriched their lives with a love of music, travel, good food, and good stories. He will be greatly, greatly missed. Bob is survived by his wife Gloria, his daughter Jennifer (Jason), two sons, Justin (Jill) and Jeremy; five grandchildren: Jackson, Jenna, Drew, Abigail and Jacob; two brothers Loren (Gayle), Ken (Lynne), and one sister Connie (Herb). Services for Bob will be held at the Canyon Lake United Methodist Church on Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. with a reception immediately following at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the YMCA.