Kilfoil, Robert William 1928-2016

KILFOIL, ROMAN, HOOVER, WALDMAN, CLASH, SPELMAN, MCGEE, MOORE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/15/2016 at 15:44:37

Robert William Kilfoil
November 23, 1928 ~ November 19, 2016 (age 87)

Memorial services will be Saturday morning, November 26th at 10 a.m. at the Wallace Family Funeral Home with burial to follow at the Newton Union Cemetery.

A public Masonic Service will be held at 5 p.m., Friday, November 25th at the funeral home.

The family will greet friends with a coffee time from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, November 25th at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name or to Newton Lodge #59 may be left at Wallace Family Funeral Home. Please indicate "Kilfoil family" on the envelope.

Robert was born November 23, 1928 to Ruth and Joseph Kilfoil in Knoxville, Iowa. His family moved to Lovilia where he attended school in a one-room schoolhouse. He graduated from the 8th grade and continued his education by helping his family during the depression.

Robert was a World War II veteran, enlisting in the Navy and serving on the U.S.S. Boxer. Following the war, he returned to Iowa where he met the love of his life, Mary. They were wed on Christmas Day, 1951 in State Center, Iowa. They moved to Newton in 1955 where Robert was a mechanic at Hawkeye Garage, and then in the Maintenance Dept. at Maytag for 31 years. Around the time they moved to Newton, Robert was accepted into the Masonic Lodge where he held many offices through the years, traveling extensively, and attaining his 50-year certificate of membership. He was also active in his church serving as an usher, participating in Bible studies, and helping support financial needs of the church as they arose. Following his retirement in 1986, he drove school buses for another 18 years. His kids called him "Grandpa Bob". When Mary had a stroke in 2005, Robert gave up his bus route and became her primary care giver. It was a rough 2 1/2 years for both of them. When he lost the love of his life in 2013, Robert carried on as best he could as we all do.

Robert passed from this life to join his beloved Mary the evening of November 19th just a few days shy of his 88th birthday.

Robert was a man of integrity, honesty, and unconditional love for his family. He was preceded in death by his mother Ruth, father Joseph, stepfather Burton, brother-in-law Charlie, aunt, Francis Roman, and several uncles.

Those left to honor his memory include his sister Dorothy "Rosie" Hoover of What Cheer, Iowa; daughter, Susan (K.J.) Waldman of Newton; grandson Patrick (Rebecca) Clash of Grinnell, Iowa; stepdaughters, Mary Lynn Spelman of Seattle, Washington and Katherine McGee of Racine, Wisconsin; and a cousin Tom Moore of Las Vegas, Nevada. ~ The Wallace Family Funeral Home, Newton, Iowa 19 Nov 2016.