Degner, Robert (1939-2015)
DEGNER, GLOSS, BAUGHMAN, WAGGIE, PAULSON, MARTIN
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/28/2015 at 10:15:03
Robert "Bob" Degner
June 14, 1939 - February 7, 2015Robert "Bob" Degner, age 75, of Newell, Iowa, died on Saturday, February 7, 2015, at Bickford Senior Living in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
Robert Clyde Degner, a son of Fredrick and Arvilla (Gloss) Degner, was born on June 14, 1939, in the same bedroom as his dad on the Degner farm by Albert City. He had one older brother, Freddie, two older sisters, Barbara and Ruth, and a younger brother, David. He also had a foster sister, Eleanor.
Robert loved life on the farm. He especially enjoyed going threshing with his dad. Indeed, he followed his dad everywhere savoring his company. His uncle, Albert, also lived with them.
At age four, Robert began first grade at Varina Consolidated School. In 1952, when he was in the ninth grade, he transferred to the Albert City, Iowa, school where he graduated in 1956. Next, he farmed and worked in a gas station in Albert City. Then, he bought his first piece of machinery, an M Tractor, which is still around today. He farmed up until the day he went to the hospital in May of 2014 when he was forced to retire. His last big tractor was an 9180, which he loved.
In December of 1958, he started dating the love of his life, Barbara (Baughman) Degner. On January 1, 1962, he was drafted into the army and fortunately spent his two years in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After basic training, Robert and Barb married on March 11, 1962. She stayed and finished one month of beauty school, took the state boards on April 16, and left for Colorado to join her new husband the same day.
When they returned home from the Army in 1964, they moved to a rented farm south of Fonda, Iowa, owned by the Kelly family. Together, they farmed there for almost fifty years, raising cattle, hogs, sheep, corn, beans, and children.
Robert and Barb were blessed with three boys: Dennis, James, and Jeff, and one girl, Stevi. They were also foster parents for fifty other children over the years. Lots of love and kids went through their home.
In August 2011, Robert and Barb moved into Newell, Iowa. They enjoyed living right across the street from the park where they could sit in their easy chairs and watch all the activities. Although Robert enjoyed town, he felt he had left his heart at the farm. Fortunately, he was able to go out there every day with his dog Mia by his side.
A wonderful and devoted husband and father always at his wife’s side no matter what was going on, Robert will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
Born again in October, 1986, Robert was baptized to bear witness to Jesus Christ. He firmly believed in having a personal relationship with Jesus in order to have a normal life with Him in Heaven. He is the “Only” Way.
Those left to celebrate his life include his wife of fifty-three years, Barb Degner, of Newell, Iowa; his sons, Dennis (Julie) and Jeff (Darleen) Degner, of Lytton, Iowa, and James (Ann) Degner, of Omaha, Nebraska; his daughter, Stevi Degner, of Newell, Iowa; sixteen grandchildren; his brothers, Freddie and David Degner; and his sister, Barbara Waggie; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Ruth Paulson; his foster sister, Eleanor Martin; his nephew, Ron Degner; and his father- and mother-in-law, Hugh and Erma Baughman.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 11, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church in Newell. Burial will follow in the Varina Cemetery in rural, Varina, Iowa, with full military rites by the Newell American Legion. Visitation will take place Tuesday, February 10, 2015, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church in Newell. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell is in charge of the arrangements.
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