Robert Nihart d. 2001

NIHART, ILES ALBER

Posted By: A.M.W. (email)
Date: 5/14/2006 at 00:13:12

Robert E. Nihart, 80, of Mount Pleasant, died at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2001, at Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant.

Mr. Nihart was born in Center Township of Henry County, near Mount Pleasant, the son of John D. and Neva L. Iles Nihart.

He was a 1939 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School and attended Iowa Wesleyan College until December 1941. He served as a Tech 5 in the Army during World War II, in the invasion of Italy and in campaigns in southern France, Rhineland and central Europe, receiving several citations. After being honorably discharged, he returned to Mount Pleasant, where he was Line 1 supervisor at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown for 25 years. He then taught horsemanship and horse care at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. He worked for Mount Pleasant School District in supply and maintenance.

He was an avid horseman and showed and raced champion quarter horses. He was a well-known judge of horses, traveled the state judging horse shows, and was an experienced consultant in southeast Iowa in buying horses. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, Henry County Saddle Club and several other horse clubs.

He was a former member of First United Methodist Church and the Moose Lodge, both of Mount Pleasant, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2561.

Survivors include one brother, Richard A. Nihart of Washington, Iowa; one sister, Martha A. "Sarah" Alber of Wayland; seven nieces; five nephews; and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.

Visitation will be from noon to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Weir Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The funeral for Mr. Nihart will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Forest Home Cemetery in Mount Pleasant, with the Revs. Richard Iles and Rick Zickefoose officiating. Full military honors will be presented by VFW Post 2561, American Legion Post 58 and AMVETS Post 44.

A memorial has been established for Henry County Cancer Fund.