ROBERT H. GERNES 1915 to 2010

GERNES, WEST

Posted By: James Mincks (email)
Date: 8/22/2010 at 13:42:08

Robert H. Gernes, 95, passed away from heart failure on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at Hospice of Central Iowa's Kavanagh House, in Des Moines. Friends are invited to a family visitation on Sunday, August 1 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Dunn's Funeral Home, 2121 Grand Avenue in Des Moines. The funeral service is also at Dunn's, at 1 p.m., Monday, August 2, with burial afterward at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.

Bob was born June 25, 1915 in Winona, Minnesota, to William and Anna Gernes. He grew up in Ames, Iowa and graduated from Ames High and Iowa State University. Bob worked as an accountant, and began his career with the Iowa State Liquor Commission in 1937. He was introduced to Elizabeth(Becky) West by mutual friends. They fell in love, and married in 1941. They raised three sons and spent 43 years together, until her death in 1984.

Bob served in the army from 1941 to 45 as a finance sergeant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he worked to calculate payrolls for the Army Air Corps.

After the war, Bob spent the rest of his working life as an accountant with companies in the Des Moines area, including John Deere, Brady Manufacturing, Peanut Products Corporation, and the Wittern Group. Bob retired from Wittern in 1980, after almost 20 years.

Bob was a warm, gregarious man who loved the company of family and friends. He and Becky enjoyed parties and dancing at the Val Air Ballroom. He traveled widely, both with Becky and alone after her death. He saw much of Europe, and also went to Australia and New Zealand.

Bob was an avid bridge player until the end of his life. He was a voracious reader and frequent donator of books. He was also an accomplished musician from childhood on, who played the timpani, marimba, piano, and pipe organ. The organ was his favorite, and he played for 30 years as organist for St. Theresa's church, and another 15 for Dunn's Funeral Home.

Bob deeply loved his family and was very proud of them. He is survived by his sons, Robert West (Ann) Gernes, and Steven (Jill) Gernes; his daughter-in-law Linda Gernes; niece Elizabeth Frink; and seven grandchildren. Bob's son Frederic passed away in 2006.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Iowa Kavanagh House, or to the Des Moines Symphony.

taken from the Des Moines Sunday Register; August 1, 2010, page 7B, column 5.