Bahl, Robert R. (1937-2007)

BAHL, GARMS, ABNEY, BALLOU, BREDESEN, MITCHELL, KERNS, WATERS

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/12/2008 at 21:09:09

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, September 18, 2007

Robert R. Bahl, 70, of Kingsley, died at his home on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007, following a lengthy bout with cancer.

Robert Reynold Bahl was born April 3, 1937, on a farm near Spirit Lake, the son of Reynold and Leona (Garms) Bahl. He was raised in the Spirit Lake area, graduating from high school in 1954. Robert enlisted in the United States Navy on Jan. 6, 1955, where he proudly served his country and earned his honorable discharge on April 2, 1958, having attained the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. After the Navy he enrolled at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, where he earned his bachelor's degree in business education, played football, and served as student body president. Upon graduation Robert took a position with A.C. Nielsen in Chicago, Ill.

Bob missed the Midwest and returned to the area to teach at Correctionville in 1961 where he taught business and coached football. He would later take a position as elementary principal and teacher at East Monona (Soldier and Moorhead, Iowa) in 1963 in addition to being the assistant football, girls' basketball, and girls' track coach.

Beginning in the summer of 1966, Bob began taking graduate classes at Central Missouri State in Warrensburg, Mo., where he earned his masters and specialist degree in education. He also met Nancy Abney and the two were united in marriage at Warrensburg on Dec. 23, 1967. The couple made their first home in Soldier. He later accepted his first superintendent position at Orient-Macksburg School in 1972. In 1973 he became the superintendent at Kingsley-Pierson School District where he served 24 years and retired in 1997.

Bob was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Kingsley where he served as an elder, usher, and member of the Finance Committee. He was a member of the School Administrators of Iowa and Representative Council of the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union.

He was a great lover of the outdoors and thoroughly enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping with his family and friends. Bob and Nancy traveled extensively, making trips to Alaska four times, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edwards Island.

Bob will be lovingly remembered by his wife Nancy of Kingsley; three sons Robert S. Bahl of Chicago, Ill., Roger Bahl of Richfield, Minn., and Ron Bahl of Lincoln, Neb.; three sisters, Sharon Ballou and her husband Dave of Ozark, Mo., and their daughters Kari Bredesen and husband Rick and son Haakon, and Kaci Mitchell and husband Jamie and daughter Megan; Karen Kerns and her husband Doug of North Liberty, and their son Tim; Beverly Waters of Shenandoah, and her family; and many, many wonderful friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the First Lutheran Church in Kingsley with Rev. Duane Miesner officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Kingsley Cemetery with military rites conducted by the local American Legion. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Rohde - Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley. The family will be present from 4 to 8 p.m. and there will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. There will be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral service.