1990-1999:

• Bob Krob passed away from cancer on September 29, 1990.

• The fourth generation starts...with Lee, Allen, Michael, and Mark

• Michael Krob was killed in a work-related accident on April 13, 1999.

The Fourth Generation: Hope and Tragedy…. The '90s were a decade of great hope and excitement as the Fourth generation joined the company. The farm economy was improving from its lows of the '80s, and each location was continuing to make facility improvements. Equipment continued to get bigger and bigger, and FJ Krob & Co strived to keep pace. Quality products and great service remained their goal. They were looking ahead with excitement at the dawning of the next century.

Like the generations before, the fourth generation of Krobs began working at the elevator as soon as they were old enough to handle a scoop shovel, and as they got older they graduated through every echelon of the business, from scooping out soybean bins in the heat of summer, to delivering feed in the dead of winter, to working 100-hour weeks operating sprayers in the springtime. The “old timers” seem to enjoy telling the young guys how much easier they have it, missing out on things like shelling corn and handling coal, but the younger generation might not completely agree, as there is still plenty of hard work to be done. During the ‘90s, the fourth generation became an integral part of the company’s management team.

Lee Cherry had worked out of the Walker location as a semi driver since 1989, and he married Mike’s daughter Michelle in 1992. He started managing the Rowley location in 1997, running a sprayer in the springtime.

Allen Krob, Mike's son, graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1992 with a degree in Business Management. He returned to the elevator immediately after college to work out of the Walker location, helping Mike with the management and running a sprayer in the spring.

Mike’s younger son, Michael, graduated from UNI in 1995 with a Business Management degree. He also returned to the elevator right out of college, mixing feed and running a sprayer. Tragically, on April 13, 1999, Michael Krob was killed in an accident while operating a Big "A" floater. He was only 26 years old. Although the cause of the accident was never determined, the end result was clear: A big part of the future of FJ Krob & Co. had been lost. But Michael died doing what he loved, and with the support of family, employees, customers, communities and friends, the company grieved Michael’s loss while continuing to look ahead to the future. There was, after all, still work to do.

Mark Krob graduated from Iowa State in 1999, and began working full-time in Solon shortly thereafter. He started on the feed truck and in the mill, also operating a sprayer in the springtime. Mark began managing the Solon operation in 2005.

The 90s were a decade of hope and tragedy, beginning with the loss of Bob Krob and ending with the loss of Michael Krob. But through it all, the company emerged poised for the new millennium stronger than ever. Still dedicated to providing quality products and great service, FJ Krob continued to celebrate success, overcome diversity and forge boldly ahead.