AREY, Robert Edward 1930-2016

AREY, BITTERMAN, REEDY

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 10/12/2016 at 10:10:00

Robert ‘Bob’ Edward Arey

NORA SPRINGS, IOWA — Robert “Bob” Edward Arey, 86, of Nora Springs, Iowa, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, at the I.O.O.F. Home, Mason City, Iowa.

A Celebration of Bob’s Life will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016, at the Christian Church, Nora Springs, Iowa, with the Rev. David Byrd, Chaplin of I.O.O.F. Home, Mason City, Iowa, officiating.

Inurnment will be in Park Cemetery, Nora Springs, Iowa.

The family will greet friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the church and also one hour before the service on Thursday at the church.

Family suggests memorials to Hospice of North Iowa or I.O.O.F. Home, Mason City, Iowa. The family request casual dress as Bob loved his blue jeans.

Bob was born July 29, 1930, in Worthington, Minnesota, the son of Ralph and Jerrine (Reedy) Arey.

He attended school in the Worthington area; following school he became an over the road truck driver. He married Dolores Bitterman March 3, 1961, in Clinton, Iowa.

He worked at Cashway Lumber Yard, Clinton, Iowa, as their truck driver and then Allied Steel Co., Clinton, Iowa, for over 23 years as a welder/fabricator, which constructed the beams for New York City Twin Towers and Sears Towers in Chicago. He was the union steward for 16 years and he was always looking for fairness.

Bob always enjoyed being around people. He loved to laugh and he loved to make people laugh. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was never a sports fan but he always enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, where he was their greatest fan, and attending the family get-togethers. He enjoyed working with his hands. He loved reading the Bible, his Bible Study groups and his church family. He enjoyed working in the flower beds, fishing, and his long walks in the country. He was always up for a good discussion.

Bob is survived by his son Mike Arey, Britt, Iowa, and a daughter Terrie (Russ) Kunkel, Wesley, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Michael Arey, Stephanie (Travis) Angel, Kyle Arey, Ryan Arey, Jason (Samantha) Kunkel, Travis Kunkel, Shelby (Gerald) Curry and Todd Kunkel; six great-grandchildren, Abigale Angel, Benson Angel, Azalea Kunkel, Teagan Kunkel, Gannon Demay-Kunkel and Elizabeth Curry; a sister Linda Bohnson, Abilene, Kansas; brother-in-law Clarence (Marion) Bitterman, Independence, Iowa; sister-in-law Doretta (Jim) Brandhorst, Cedar Falls, Iowa, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; five brothers, Ralph Jr., Dwayne, Lional “Bud,” Jerome “Dick” and Darwin Arey, and two sisters, Jerline Higgins and Janie Arey.

Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 114 North Hawkeye, Nora Springs, Iowa, 641-749-2210. ColonialChapels.com.

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 12 OCT 2016