Robert “Bob” Irwin
IRWIN, MATSON, DETWEILER
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 8/16/2023 at 12:23:26
Robert “Bob” Irwin passed away suddenly at home on August 9, 2023.
A gathering will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Interment will immediately follow at Oakland Cemetery.
Bob was born in East Lansing, Michigan on February 22, 1956. He was the son of Robert and Phyllis (Matson) Irwin. Bob grew up in Iowa City, attending Kirkwood Elementary in Coralville and Lincoln Elementary in Iowa City. His junior high/middle school years were spent at University High School (informally known as U-High) until it closed and then moved to West High School where he graduated in 1974. He completed his undergraduate degree in business at The University of Iowa and went on to receive his Masters of Business Administration from the Iowa College of Business.
He began working in Madison, Wisconsin where he stayed for over ten years before transferring to other jobs in California, Nebraska and Missouri. When his father’s health began to fail, he returned to the Iowa City area to help with his care and to be closer to family and friends. Bob retired from The University of Iowa in 2019 where he worked in the College of Liberal Arts and Science.
Throughout his life he enjoyed swimming, traveling, spending time with friends and family and had taken up pickleball until he was sidelined by an injury. He also enjoyed going to garage/estate sales. He seemed to always find some unique item that he just had to purchase. While living in California, he cheered on the Hawkeyes in the 1986 Rose Bowl alongside his younger sister, brother-in-law and mother. He also convinced his parents and older sister to visit him in L.A. He enjoyed showing them all the sights including Disney World and Knotts Berry Farms. Bob was truly fond of the time he spent in Madison, Wisconsin. He loved the city and had many good friends that he still kept in touch with on a regular basis. Although he was a Wisconsin Badgers fan, Bob was a devoted Hawkeye. He so enjoyed when the Badgers came to Kinnick Stadium. He loved to cheer on the Hawkeyes especially in football and basketball.
Bob was a devoted son, brother, uncle and friend. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all that knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Robert and Phyllis and his sister, Linda. He is survived by his sister, Lisa (Bill) Detweiler and nephew, Matt Detweiler (Maya) as well as many uncles, aunts and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244-4550 or a charity of your choice.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
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