POSEKANY, Robert E. 1929-2011

POSEKANY, DAMM, FRATZKE, PETERS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/24/2019 at 17:38:16

Robert E. Posekany of Osceola, Iowa passed away on January 8, 2011, at Iowa Methodist Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa.

Robert was born in Aredale, Iowa on March 2, 1929, to Charles and Emma (Damm) Posekany. His family moved to many different towns in Iowa while his father was a roadmaster with the railroad. Bob attended high school in Dike, Iowa, and in 1946 he enlisted in the Navy. He traveled throughout the U.S. during his "minority cruise" enlistment, finishing his service duty in London, England in 1950. While he served overseas, he was employed by the U.S. Embassy as a Jeep carpenter. A photograph of Bob standing in uniform in front of the unveiling of the statue of President Franklin D. Roosevelt at 20 Grosvenor Square in London was picked up by news agencies and published in major U.S. newspapers.

Returning to his hometown of Dike Iowa, Robert began his construction business, which he continued throughout his life. He was involved in stock car racing at Waterloo Tunis Speedway. He was a successful driver and later promoter. He was President of the Cedarloo Racing Association from 1953 to 1959, and President of Greater Iowa Racing, Inc. from 1961 to 1965. He was a registered official of the IMCA (International Motor Contest Association) from 1968 through 1969. Mark Martin was his favorite race car driver.

In 1971 he married Darlene Fratzke Peters of Weldon, Iowa. They enjoyed traveling on cruises to the Caribbean, Mexican Rivera and Alaska. They also traveled to Rome, Spain, Monte Carlo, Hawaii and Tangiers, Africa. During his residence in Weldon and Osceola, he continued Posekany Construction, building 128 homes in the area. During his retirement years, Robert enjoyed the camaraderie of many friends and staff at Lakeside Casino, and he was an avid supporter of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Robert is a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, lifetime member of the American Legion, D.A.V. (Disabled American Veterans) and AmVets, for which he started the post in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years; son Charles (Susan) Posekany of Woodburn, Iowa; daughters Rhonda (Pat) Epley of Shell Rock, Iowa, Susan Klein (husband Ian Lynch) of New Orleans, Louisiana and Mary (Edward) Engler of West Des Moines; granddaughters Anna Marie Posekany of Reno, Nevada, Tesia Sue Posekany of Storm Lake, Iowa, Nicole (Will) Selser of West Des Moines; and great-grandson Blake Selser of West Des Moines.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Leslie and sisters Charlotte Taylor and Virginia McNeil.

--Kale Funeral Home (www.kalefuneralhome.com)