Robert Anthony Lehnertz

LEHNERTZ, ZAPF, JOHNSON

Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 9/14/2015 at 15:58:48

Robert Anthony Lehnertz passed away on September 12, following a sudden illness, after dedicating a life to his family, friends and the Iowa City community.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:00 AM, Monday September 21st, at St. Thomas More Church, 3000 12th Ave., Coralville. Visitation will be Sunday, September 20th from 4:00-7:00 PM at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City, with a moment of reflection at 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Home of Johnson County, Athletes In Action - University of Iowa or Elks Country Club, BPOE #590, Iowa City. Memorial may be sent to PO Box 167, Iowa City, Iowa 52244.

Born on December 20, 1934 in Lemon, South Dakota, Bob grew up in Strawberry Point, Iowa. He served his country in the U.S. Army and attended Pasadena City College, the University of Iowa and the University of Wisconsin School of Banking. He married the love of his life, Pat, on July 27, 1963 and they have been committed citizens of the Iowa City community ever since. Bob worked at Wilson's Sporting Goods so that Pat could finish her degree at the University of Iowa and then began what would become a 35 year career at Iowa City's First National Bank. Bob became a fixture in Iowa City's downtown and there were few who didn't come to know him.

Bob's commitment to Iowa City went well beyond his time at the bank. He gave hour upon hour to the youth of Iowa City, as a coach and as a referee for youth sports, as a part of the local Optimists Club and by teaching personal financing to Iowa City junior high students. In 1966, Bob was the head coach of Iowa City's Babe Ruth Baseball team that, for the first time ever, advanced to the Babe Ruth World Series in Arizona. Many of the players he coached on that and other teams went on to become notable figures in our community. When he wasn't banking or working to better local youth, Bob was singing with the Old Capitol Barber Shoppers.

A great passion for Bob's many years in Iowa City was his 48 year membership with the Elks Country Club. Most of his closest friendships were formed on the fairways of its golf course and on Wednesday nights on the card tables of the club house. This was where he passed on his love of golf and its many lessons to his sons, Rod and Dave. He also passed onto his sons his life-long love of the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bob retired from First National Bank in 1995, and from that point forward he turned his love and passion toward his grandchildren. Known by them as Bumpa, he continued to share daily lessons of integrity, honesty and deep love for family.

Until the moment he left us, he lived a full life, with his final weekend including a day at Kinnick for Iowa Football's first win of the season, watching his granddaughter Mariana sing at church and having fun with friends and family at his son Dave's 50th birthday. He even delayed his passing until 15 minutes after the Hawkeyes beat Iowa State - after 52 years of season tickets, he was with us for one last great Hawkeye win.

During Bob's 5 days in the UIHC Palliative Care unit, we witnessed remarkable warmth and kindness from the entire team. We want to share special thanks for Nurse Becky Jallo-Knorrek, Music Therapist Katie Kooi, and our dear friend, Chaplain Mary Kay Kusner. So many others, either working there every day or just stopping by, made a difficult time most inspiring. And another heartfelt thank you to Dr. John Sharp, who worked so hard to care for Bob and our family in recent years.

We will all dearly miss our Bumpa, and look forward to when we reunite in heaven.

Survivors include Patricia (Zapf), his wife of 52 years, his eldest son Rod, his wife Blanca and their children Anthony, Tereysa and Mariana, and his second son Dave, his wife Katie and their children Remi, Hudson and Barrett. Bob's surviving siblings are Jerry (Patty) Lehnertz and Janette (Dudley) Johnson. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Tony and Alice Lehnertz, and his brother Roger.

Online condolences may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.com

Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
 

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