Robert Charles Irons 1922-2007
THOMPSON, IRONS, BAXTER, METTILLE, SHEEHAN, TROENDLE, ROBERTS, EGAN, KARCZEWSKI, STRONG, SMILEY, HAAR, STYRWOLL, MELLEM
Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 11/20/2007 at 20:36:11
Robert C. Irons
Robert C. Irons, 85, of Waukon died Monday, October 8, 2007 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, October 12 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Joseph Schneider officiating. Burial was in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Patrick School in Waukon.
Robert Charles Irons was born May 30, 1922 in New Albin, the son of Ernest "Pat" and Ruth (Thompson) Irons. He attended the New Albin Schools. While still a young man, Bob had a variety of different jobs, including spending several summers following the wheat harvest in the Dakotas, helping on a number of area farms and working out of the CCC Camp in Decorah.
February 14, 1944 he married Catherine Baxter at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. Although he continued to do farm work while they raised their family, he also started working with Eclipse Lumber Company in Waukon, where he did a variety of different things. A little later he started a career as a carpenter which saw him involved in projects at the power plant in Lansing and helping to build the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Bob's last job was helping his brother-in-law at his furniture store in Huxley.
Throughout his life, Bob liked to stay active and be outdoors. He played baseball and softball as a catcher in local leagues and later umpired the game well into his 50s. He loved fishing at the Mississippi River and also took fishing trips to neighboring states. Playing cards, music and dancing were other favorite pastimes, and he particularly enjoyed driving the Toetappers band to many of their dances. A very social person, Bob liked spending time with his friends and he loved to spend time camping with his family, where "Grandpa Bubba" was known for his wonderful story telling as well as his "Bob-isms."
Survivors include his nine children: Connie (James) Mettille of Lansing, Carol Ann "Callie" Irons of Waukon, Alyce (Vince) Sheehan, Jr. of East Dubuque, IL, Sr. Marilou Irons, PVBM of Cedar Falls, Bill (Kathy) Irons of Holmen, WI, Bob (Rita) Irons of Waukon, Margaret (Dennis) Troendle of Waukon, Pat (Mike) Roberts of Plymouth, MN, and Lori (Mark) Egan of Waukon; 19 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ben Irons of Lansing and Wayne (Mary Jane) Irons of Bluegrass; and six sisters, Laura Karczewski of Chicago, Lorna (Milton) Strong of La Crosse, WI, Beverly (Loren) Smiley of Kewaunee, WI, Marjorie Haar of Oelwein, Karen Styrwoll of Minnesota, and Barbara Mellem of Prairie du Chien, WI.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Catherine, who died in 1984; a granddaughter, Barbara Mettille; three brothers, Jack, Homer and Lewis; and two sisters, Dorothy and Ruth.
Casketbearers were Matt, Mark and Ben Mettille, Vincent Sheehan III, Scott Irons, and Jess Troendle.
The Waukon Standard, October 16, 2007
Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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