Robert Winegardner 1935-2011

WINEGARDNER, GOTTA, HAVENER, FUNK, MCDANIEL, ROBUS, HOIT

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/3/2014 at 06:54:57

Pella — Funeral services for Robert Winegardner of Knoxville were held on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home with Pastor Brad Hansen, officiating. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery at a later date. Musical selections of "I Can Only Imagine" and "Amazing Grace" were shared. Military Honors were accorded by the V.F.W. John Myers Post No. 3519 and the American Legion Baty-Tucker Post No. 168.

Robert Eugene Winegardner was born near Oskaloosa, Iowa on August 29, 1935, to Charles & Mayme (Gotta) Winegardner. Bob was a typical Iowa farm boy. He began doing chores and driving the tractor at a very young age, and helped his dad take care of the crops and the livestock. He had a pony he was quite fond of called "Eddy", and later a riding horse. Bob attended rural school through 8th grade. He and his double cousin, Harold Gotta, were inseparable during the early years. Together they shared many adventures and an enduring friendship. Bob graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1953. After graduating, he drove a coal truck for uncles Paul Havener and John Gotta. Later, Bob was hired by Western Electric, a division of Bell Telephone.

In 1957 he married Sandra Marlene Funk of Lovilia. They had a very short four-day honeymoon before he was drafted into the United States Army and sent for Basic Training to Fort Carson Colorado. He received his training as a tank commander at Fort Knox Kentucky, and was then stationed in Munich, Germany for seventeen months. There he joined the 101st Paratrooper Unit, where he made nine jumps before the Unit disbanded. Bob was awarded many medals during his military service, including the "Sharp Shooter" medal.

After his discharge from the Army in 1959, he returned to work at Western Electric in Des Moines, Iowa. The young couple set up house with baby daughter, Kimberlyn Jo, on 57th Street in Des Moines, Iowa. Four years later, a son, Douglas Brian, was born. In 1965 the family moved to Carlisle, Iowa. Bob retired from Western Electric with twenty-two years service, and took over his father's sales position with Moorman Manufacturing. In 1977, they built a new home on West Madison Street in Knoxville, Iowa.

After eight years with Moorman Manufacturing, Bob was ready for a career change. He began working as a day commodities trader out of two offices, one in Indianola, Iowa, and one in Osceola, Iowa, before setting up a home office from which to do his trading. Bob enjoyed working in the Markets and continued trading until the time of his death.

Everyone who knew Bob knows that he was incredibly meticulous about his lawn, his house, his cars and his motorcycles. In younger years, Bob & Sandra traveled with friends by motorcycle to several states, including California and Colorado. They even traveled to Canada by motorcycle. Bob enjoyed these trips immensely. Bob was an avid NASCAR fan, and also enjoyed collecting guns of all kinds through the years. Bob and Sandra always reserved Friday evenings for their special "date night", and Sandra treasures those memories.

Bob suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and passed away Sunday, August 7, 2011, at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of 75 years. Those left to honor Bob's life are his wife, Sandra, a daughter, a son, and six grandchildren. They and their families are Kimberlyn Jo & Douglas McDaniel of Camdenton, MO; Ashley Nichole Kelley of Camdenton, MO; Douglas Brian & Susan (Robus) Winegardner of Pleasant Hill; Cory Douglas Winegardner of Ames; Blaise Robus Winegardner; Brock Douglas Winegardner; Brandon Gaass Winegardner and Becca Faith Winegardner.

"Papa", as his grandchildren called him, was a very devoted grandfather. His grandchildren were his pride and joy. They spent a lot of time with him and loved him very much. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Charles & Mayme (Gotta) Winegardner, and his sister, Loretta Winegardner Hoit.

For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Lovilia Community Building or to the Woodlawn Cemetery Association. Online condolences may be left at BertrandFuneralHomes.com

Pella Chronicle
Friday, August 19, 2011