Sullivan, Robert Leland 1930 - 2024

SULLIVAN, HULL, FLICKINGER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 10/18/2024 at 11:36:36

Robert Sullivan, age 94, of Decorah, IA, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday morning, October 13, 2024.

A celebration of life will be held at Stone Ridge Community Church on Saturday, October 19 at 11 a.m. Bob chose to have his body donated to the University of Iowa's deeded body program to further medical education and research at the university.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to The Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.

Robert Leland Sullivan was born July 19, 1930, to William and Ethel Sullivan in Central City, Iowa. He was one of six children including sisters Hazel and Connie and brothers Dorrance, Donald, and Glen. The family lived in Plainfield, IA, and graduated from Plainfield High School. Bob played baseball and basketball in high school and worked summers at the local hatchery. Shortly after graduation, Bob enlisted in the Air Force where he served in Frankfort, Germany as a radioman on C-47 aircrafts. During his tour, he visited over 25 countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, and most of Europe. He received an honorable discharge in 1954. He then attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, receiving training in architectural drafting.

Bob was united in marriage to Frances Hull on April 7, 1956, in Russell, IA. Bob and Fran met in Minneapolis and soon moved to Austin, MN where Bob worked as a draftsman and assistant manager in a lumber yard. In 1958, they moved to Cedar Rapids and Bob worked as a draftsman for 33 years before retiring in 1991. Bob and Fran had two children, Brenda and Craig. In retirement, Bob remained very active, refereeing baseball, basketball, and volleyball games and doing odd jobs helping neighbors and friends. In 2003, Bob and Fran sold their home of 55 years in Cedar Rapids and moved to Decorah to enjoy full retirement.

In Decorah, Bob and Fran attended Stone Ridge Community Church. In 2016, they sold their home in Decorah and moved into Arlan Falck Assisted Living. Fran passed away in January 2021 after they had been happily married for almost 65 years. Bob moved to Wellington Place Memory Care in May 2023. He was known to be a friendly neighbor who always had a “here comes trouble remark”, to say hello and bring a smile. When asked how he was doing, he would answer with a wry smile “Terrible.”

Bob was preceded in death by his wife Fran, parents William and Ethel Sullivan, his brothers Dorrance, Donald and Glen, and his sister Hazel. He is survived by daughter Brenda (Sullivan) Flickinger and son-in-law Jon of Rochester, MN, son Craig and daughter-in-law Rebecca of Decorah and six grandchildren Karen, Kristen, Matthew, Paul, Andrew, and Rachelle and six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Source: Helms Funeral Home database