Westercamp, Robert Theodore 1936-2016

WESTERCAMP, SAMUELSON, CARTER, PICKERING, ABERNATHY, PETERSON, WRIGHT

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/6/2016 at 07:36:41

ROBERT THEODORE WESTERCAMP
Cedar Rapids

Robert Theodore Westercamp, 79, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at his home. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church. A visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories.
Robert was born on Oct. 22, 1936, in Newton, Iowa, to Fred and June (Samuelson) Westercamp. In 1955, he graduated from Newton High School, earning a Maytag Scholarship. He attended the University of Iowa where he earned his B.A. After college graduation, Bob married Linda Carter. They later divorced. Robert was united in marriage to Reta Pickering-Abernathy on Aug. 15, 1972.
Bob worked as a chemist and microbiologist at Penick and Ford from 1959-79. He was a microbiologist supervisor at Sanitation Laboratories from 1979-89. Then he became lab director at Roush Products in 1990 and built a laboratory for them. In 1995, he became a research scientist at both Pillsbury and General Mills in the fresh bread department until his retirement in 2005. While at Pillsbury/General Mills, Bob was responsible for two patents involving steam-crushed whole-grains and one patent for whole grain products made with durum wheat. Bob was a member of the Society of Industrial Microbiologists as well as the Institute of Food Technologists.

Bob was a "dyed in the wool" Hawkeye football and basketball fan; you could hear him cheering across the street. He loved cars, motorcycles and bicycles – Ducatis, Jaguars and every vehicle in between. Bob was president of Cedar Valley Trail Riders for many years and was a current member of the Corvairs Biking Society. Bob rode in 13 RAGBRAI events. He was a voracious reader, loved to travel and his favorite place was St. Martin in the Caribbean. Bob had a very special relationship with his grandchildren.

Robert is survived by his wife of 43 years, Reta; two stepsons, Dr. Kirk (Dr. Shelly) Abernathy of Fayette and Bruce Abernathy of Cedar Rapids; two grandchildren, Kirk Jr. and Danielle Abernathy; siblings, Dixie Peterson of Newton, Tim (Carol) Westercamp of Cedar Rapids, Pat (Robert Wright) Westercamp of Mount Vernon and Dr. Jeff (Sherry) Westercamp of Cedar Rapids; half siblings, Keith, Kenneth, Joy and Kathleen Westercamp; and many nieces and nephews.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; his brother-in-law, Ed Peterson; and a nephew, Troy Peterson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Linn County Trails; http://linncountytrails.
org/maps/find-a-trail/cedar-valley-nature-trail/ or St. Stephen's Lutheran Church.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.
Posted on Wednesday, 6 January 2016

Read more at http://www.thegazette.com/obituaries/robert-westercamp-20160106-0001089591-01#xR5LgUxJaT4BxwhX.99 ~ The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 6 Jan 2016.