Robert L. "Bob" Keys

KEYS, ROBERTS, ULCH, ANDRYS, PEARL, DAU

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 6/17/2011 at 15:36:54

In Loving Memory of Robert “Bob” Keys, 82

Robert L. "Bob" Keys, 82, of Coralville, died Wednesday, June 15, 2011 in his home due to complications from cancer.

The family will receive friends at a visitation from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Lensing Funeral Home in Coralville. Formal services will follow at 12:30 p.m., and burial will be in Memory Gardens in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to the Friends of teh
Animal Center Foundation in support of the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center.

Robert Lester Keys was born December 27, 1928 in Iowa City to John “Ray” Keys and Florence Amelia Roberts. He attended City High School in Iowa City and met his wife, Bernice Ulch, shortly after graduating.

Bob and Bernice married in Maryland in 1951, prior to Bob’s military shipment overseas. He served in the Signal Corps during the Korean War, and brought home stories of Swiss beauty and German beer.

A lifelong Hawkeye, Bob started his career at the University of Iowa at age 14 as a gardener, and retired as an Environmental Services Manager at 62. He was a Hawkeye athletics fan, never missing a football or basketball sportscast.

Bob loved nature and the outdoors; he enjoyed fishing trips, mushroom hunting and tending his vegetable garden. Post-retirement, he worked part-time as a land surveyor. He loved spending time with animals, and made a mean summer salsa.

Bob is survived by his wife, Bernice, and his two daughters, Cathy Keys-Andrys (Paul) of Swisher, and Janice Keys-Pearl (Jim) of Coralville; grandchildren Melea Dau (Brian), Tony Andrys, Noah Andrys, Samuel Andrys and Mayra Andrys; step-grandchildren Sean Pearl (Meredith) and Scott Pearl (Alicia).

He will be greatly missed.