Robert W. Tillmann

MEYERHOLZ, HAMMON, MCKEOWN

Posted By: Nancy (email)
Date: 9/14/2012 at 15:42:24

April 1, 2010 – The Wapello Republican – Accompanied by a photo
Robert W. Tillmann

Robert Wesley Tillmann, 75, of Burlington and formerly of Wapello, died Friday evening, March 26, 2010, at the Klein Unit of Great River Medical Center in Burlington. The son of Herbert W. and Minnie Mae Meyerholz Tillmann, he was born on April 22, 1934 at Burlington. He married Mary Lou Hammon on May 21, 1956, in Wapello. They were divorced after 38 years. He married, as he told all, “the greatest gift God ever gave him”, Frances Marie McKeown on December 28, 1995 in Burlington.

Robert graduated from Wapello High School in 1952 and attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon for one year. He served in the U.S. Army for two years and the Army Reserves for four years. He then worked at Tillmann Motor Co., the family owned dealership, for several years and then worked for National Guardian Life Insurance Co., out of Madison, Wisconsin for thirty-seven years. He won several awards including the First L.J. Larson Award of Excellence in Sales and Service of Life Insurance in 1990.

He lived in Wapello all his life until his marriage in 1995, when he moved to Sunnyside Street in Burlington where he continued to sell insurance until retiring on January 15, 1997, due to health and eye problems.

Robert was of the Methodist Faith in Wapello and also an Associate Member of the Nazarene Church in Wapello. He has currently been a member of the First United Methodist Church in Burlington. He was a Past Master and member of the Wapello Masonic Lodge #5 and a Past Worthy Patron of the Wapello O.E.S. #257. He loved his children and would attend all that he could of their school activities and 4-H as well as being an Assistant Scout Master. Robert joined the Optimists Club in Burlington in 1994. He was active in his church and became a part of the Stephens Ministry, calling on members needing help spiritually or just helping them by doing something. He has been a member of the Junior Chamber and the Chamber of Commerce at Wapello, a member of the Ford 300-500 Club, had served on the Board of Hillcrest Baby Fold for several years, and had served on the Foster Care Review Board.

He is survived by his wife, Fran; four children, Randy Tillmann of Wapello, Russell and Kari Tillmann of Mt. Vernon, Washington, Carol and Jim Kinghorn of Shenandoah, and Roger and Jennifer Tillmann of Colombia, South Carolina; nine grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Vivian Tillmann and Barbara Tillmann, both of Wapello; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Leroy and his twin Richard.

Visitation was from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Dudgeon McCulley Funeral Home in Wapello, where Masonic Rites were held at 6 p.m. and the family met with friends until 8 p.m.

On Tuesday visitation was from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Grace United Methodist Church in Burlington with the funeral service being held at 11 a.m. officiated by the Revs. Michael Orthel and Debra Engelke of the First United Methodist Church.

A lunch and fellowship immediately followed the funeral, and then burial took place at the Aspen Grove Cemetery.

A Memorial Fund has been established for the benefit of the First United Methodist Church Building Fund.