Silverman, Bob 1927-2003

SILVERMAN, SIGEL, ROSEN, LEVY

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 12/30/2003 at 17:26:58

Bob Silverman
December 29, 2003

Bob Silverman, 76, of Fairfield died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2003, at his home.

The funeral was held this morning at Reece Funeral Home in Ottumwa. Burial was at Ottumwa Jewish Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Greater Jefferson County Foundation.

Mr. Silverman was born June 6, 1927, in Iowa City, the son of Irvin and Isabelle Silverman. He married Gloria Sigel in 1949 in Ottumwa. She died in 1991. He married Audrey Rosen in 1992.

He attended Fairfield public school and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1945. He served two years in the United States Army in the Panama Canal Zone. Following his military service, he owned women's retail stores for 10 years in St. Louis, Fairfield and Burlington prior to joining J&B Plastics in Fairfield in 1958. He became a partner in the company in 1972, then the sole owner in 1984.

He was a past board member of the Fairfield Economic Development Association, past president of the Fairfield Manufacturer's Association, a member and past president of Fairfield Golf and Country Club, a member of Fairfield Shrine Club, Fairfield Elks Lodge and B'Nai Jacob Synagogue in Ottumwa.

An avid golfer, he also was a single engine pilot logging more than 2,000 hours of flying time. He loved music and entertaining, playing his original songs on both piano and ukulele for local community groups, friends and family. He recorded several CDs, with his most notable and requested song being "Nine Miles North of Birmingham." He published a nationally recognized book of nursery rhymes for adults in 2000.

Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Shari Levy and husband Bob of Minneapolis; one son, Jay Silverman and wife Diane of Fairfield; one grandson; four stepchildren; and eight step-grandchildren.

In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Jack Silverman.

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2003