Robert Matson Sellman

On August 20, ,2026, Bob Sellman passed away at his home in Sheridan, Wyoming. Bob’s unexpected death was due to cardiac arrest. He is survived by his dog Buster, his sister Julie Hendee and her family, and many friends and neighbors.

A Celebration of Bob’s Life was on Friday (Sept-11-26) starting at 5:00 pm at the No Name Bar in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Bob was born and raised in Manistique, located in the northern Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan. All his life, Bob was proud of coming from that region and being known as a true Yooper (pronounced “you-per”) as the locals up there refer to themselves. He moved to Wyoming in the early 1980s and lived in Sheridan for over 40 years. Bob had a quiet manner, spoke few words, and had a sharp mind with many years of life experiences behind it. Bob’s many friends treasured spending time with him.

Bob enjoyed times with his springer spaniels, first Curley and then Buster, at home, in the truck, and around town. Over seven years of being at Bob’s side, Buster made many admiring friends of his own. After Bob’s passing, Buster has found a new home in Sheridan, living with a great family with kids and a fenced-in backyard for him to run around in.

During his early adulthood, Bob served several years on ships carrying iron ore across the mighty Great Lakes. Hired on as a deckhand, Bob earned the respect of shipmates and shipowners alike and was promoted to able-bodied seaman. Later, Bob left the ships and became a fully certified crane operator. He operated cranes at numerous jobsites across Wyoming, Montana, Arizona, and California. Again, Bob earned the trust and respect of his coworkers working beneath his crane, and Bob developed a well-regarded reputation with the construction companies that wanted him to operate cranes on all kinds of their projects. Bob was always a dedicated and proud union member, starting with the UAW on the ships and retiring as a member of the Operating Engineers.

An avid sports fan, Bob was loyal to his teams during winning seasons – and during losing streaks. Bob’s teams were the University of Michigan and the pro teams Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers, and Detroit Red Wings. After growing up and working on the Great Lakes, Bob kept a lifelong interest in the busy shipping traffic on the lakes, always checking in daily with the website BoatNerd.com.

Bob’s ashes will be buried in the Sellman family plot at Lakeside Cemetery in his hometown of Manistique, Michigan. Online condolences may be made at www.sheridanfuneral.com. Arrangements are under the care of Sheridan Funeral Home.