GELNER, Robert Eugene 1926-2012

GELNER, ROACH, SNOPEK

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/1/2012 at 12:29:43

ROCKFORD, IOWA - Robert E. Gelner, 85, of 1204 Sixth Street, Rudd, died Monday, July 30, 2012 at Mercy Medical Center, Mason City.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, August 2, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Name Catholic Church, 507 First Avenue N.W., Rockford. Officiating will be Monsignor Brunken. Burial will follow immediately after the service at the Riverside Cemetery in Rockford with military honors conducted by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit. Visitation will be today, Wednesday August 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. and one hour prior to services at Holy Name Catholic Church, Rockford, with a Rosary Wednesday at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made out to the Robert Gelner Memorial Fund.

Robert Eugene Gelner was born on December 26, 1926, in Forest City, the son of Victor and Agnes (Roach) Gelner. He graduated from Forest City high School in 1944 and in June 1944 enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed aboard the USS Rawlins in the Pacific during World War II. Robert was with the Amphibious Force when it landed in Okinawa on April 1, 1945. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on June 8, 1946, as Yeoman 3rd Class after serving his two years of active duty.

Robert enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in May 1950 during the Korean War. He was an Airman First Class, stationed in England as a Personnel Specialist. He was honorably discharged in September, 1953.

On August 7, 1954, Robert was united in marriage to Remelda Snopek at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manly. They were engaged in farming until 1959. Robert then worked as a Section Foreman for the Rock Island Railroad. In 1964, the family moved to Rudd, Iowa where Robert was employed for over 30 years as a Molder for Oliver/White Farm Equipment in Charles City.

Robert was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church in Rockford, and a lifetime member of the VFW post No. 3914 of Charles City, Iowa. He enjoyed picnics and playing cards with his family, collecting Oliver Tractors, working on his acreage and doing custom garden tilling for many years.

Robert is survived by his wife Remelda and four children: Randy (Lori) Gelner of Apple Valley, Minn., Joni (Scott) Gelner of Manly, Deanna (Bret) Mumm of Adams, Minnesota, and Robert Jr. (Stephany) Gelner of Checotah, Oklahoma; 12 grandchildren: Lucas, Kendra, John, Mathew, Nathan, Nikki, Angelica, Cooper, Brendan, Sarah, Jacob and Lydia; two great-grandchildren: Chase and Peyton; and brother Victor (Mavis) Gelner of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, one son, John, in 1971 along with three brothers Larry, Tommy Joe, and Charles Edward.

Fullerton-Schumburg Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 302 W. Main St., Rockford, Iowa, 641-756-3311. www.fullertonfh.com.

[ Globe Gazette web site - August 1, 2012 ]