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Robinson, Robert L. 1934-2012

ROBINSON, HANSEN, REFSHAUGE, MONICK, SULLIVAN, TAKAHASHI, BENT, BECKER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/1/2017 at 17:57:08

Robert L. Robinson
Des Moines
1934-2012

Robert L. Robinson died Saturday, September 29, 2012, at his home at Scottish Rite Park.

He was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1934, the son of Myrle C. Robinson and Margaret K. Hansen Robinson. He was married to Sharon Refshauge in 1955, and they had three daughters: Ann Monick of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Meg Sullivan of Elmhurst, Illinois, and Kate Takahashi of San Diego, California. There are six grandchildren: Charles Bent and Sam Bent of Glen Ellyn; Patrick Sullivan and Bobby Sullivan of Elmhurst, and Grace Takahashi and Henry Takahashi of San Diego.

At age 19, Rob began a career at what was then Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, where he worked as a janitor to fund his education at Iowa State Teachers' College, (University of Northern Iowa). He was an active member of the Communication Workers of America. As his family grew, he progressed through several jobs with Bell, and then received his BA degree in 1966. He and his family moved to Des Moines in 1969, where he accepted a position in the company’s public relations department.

He remained a lifelong student of history, and in 1989 returned to UNI where he obtained a Master’s degree. He retired shortly thereafter, and was an adjunct professor of history for Simpson and DMACC Colleges, fulfilling a long-held desire to teach.

Rob and Sharon enjoyed auto trips in the U.S. and Canada, and they celebrated their 40th anniversary in Denmark. Jazz music was a joy to him. He was a liberal Democrat whose opinions were often expressed in letters to the editor. He loved to play golf and bridge with friends and remained a reader all of his life.

In addition to his immediate family, Rob's sister Mary Lou Becker of Minnetonka, MN, survives.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 5720 Urbandale Avenue. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, at Greenwood Cemetery in Cedar Falls.

People who wish may direct memorial contributions to the University of Northern Iowa Foundation history scholarship fund. ~ The Des Moines (IA) Register Tues 02 Oct 2012.


 

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