RUNKLE, Robert 1925-1972

RUNKLE, HENRIKSEN, PETERSEN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 7/7/2014 at 00:32:04

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA — Funeral services for Robert Runkle, 46, of 1004 Clay St., a captain with the Cedar Falls Police Department, will be at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The Rev. Arnold Stilwell, pastor, will officiate, Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery. Friends may call at the Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home until 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, after which the body will be taken to the church. The body be viewed up until service time at the church. The family requests memorials to be given to the Heart Fund.

Capt. Runkle died of an apparent heart attack, while on a fishing trip with a friend near New Hampton. He was declared dead on arrival at St. Joseph's Hospital at 8:45 a.m. Friday.

He was born July 15, 1925, in Little Cedar, the son of Harold and Gladys Mericle Runkle. He attended school in Little Cedar. Following his graduation from high school in 1943, he enlisted in the Navy and served in World War II. He attended the University of Northern Iowa for a year in 1946.

He married Verna Mae Henriksen Petersen in 1959. Before joining the police force, Mr. Runkle was self-employed at the Superior 400 Service Station, Waterloo Road and Grand Boulevard. He and his father managed the business.

He joined the police force March 1, 1955. He was promoted to Sergeant January 1, 1962 and to Lieutenant November 1, 1963. He was promoted to captain January 1, 1971. He was one of four Cedar Falls police captains.

Capt. Runkle was active in the Policeman's Association and had worked with its projects including the formation of Policeman's Park on Lincoln Street.

Surviving are his wife, Verna; his mother, Mrs. G. M. Runkle, Waterloo; and three sons: Philip Petersen, Ames, Douglas Petersen, serving in Vietnam with the Army, and Harold David Runkle at home; two daughters, Darlene Kay Runkle and Linda Sue Runkle, both at home.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Sunday, March 26, 1972