Nilles, Robert William (1924-1997)

NILLES, MCPHILLIPS, CRAWFORD, SHERMAN, MERSCH

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 10/21/2016 at 11:15:48

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Friday, May 30, 1997

Robert William (Bob) Nilles, 73, rural Webster City, died Wednesday, May 28, 1997, in Webster City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church with Rev. John J. Walsh officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. Graveside military services will be conducted by American Legion Post 191. Recitation of the Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, followed by a Scripture service and Knights of Columbus Honor Guard and Ritual. Visitation will be at Foster Funeral Home after 2 p.m. Friday until 10 a.m. Saturday.

Robert William Nilles, the son of William and Mary Helen (McPhillips) Nilles, was born May 25, 1924, at the former Mercy Hospital in Webster City. He attended school in Webster City, country school in rural Hamilton County, and graduated valedictorian at Kamrar High School in 1942. Following high school, he farmed with his father and brother in the Webster City and Kamrar area. Mr. Nilles also completed a Knights of Columbus mechanical drawing school. Following World War II, he served with the U.S. Army, Infantry, and was stationed in Texas and California.

On August 8, 1953, he married Monica Crawford at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Fort Dodge. The couple continued to farm near Webster City. Mr. Nilles also was employed at International Harvester in Webster City and was a dealer for Lynks' Seed. He retired from farming in 1987.

Mr. Nilles is survived by: his wife, Monica; five children and their spouses, Dan and Yvonne Nilles, Webster City, Jim and Deb Nilles, Newton, Rita Nilles, Dennis and Gina Nilles, and Lori Nilles, all of Webster City; four grandchildren, David, Amy, Samantha and Scott Nilles, Newton; three step grandchildren; one sister and brother-in-law, Kathleen and Carney Sherman, Fort Dodge; two sisters-in-law, Patty Nilles, Webster City, and Marcy and John Mersch, Fort Dodge; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; one brother, Bernard Nilles; and one nephew.

Mr. Nilles was a lifelong member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. He was active in Bishop Clement Smith Council 838 of the Knights of Columbus, serving 25 years as local financial secretary and two years as state recruitment chairmen as a 4th Degree member. He also was a member of the former Elks Lodge in Webster City.