CULVER, Robert R. 1920-2004

CULVER

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 2/5/2012 at 11:10:48

Robert Rush Culver, Manly,Iowa – September 9, 1920 – April 1, 2004

Robert Rush Culver, 83, of Manly, died Thursday (April 1,2004) at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bethel United Methodist Church in Manly with the Rev. Robert Cumings officiating.

Burial will be in the Manly Cemetery with military honors by the Edward Tosel American Legion Post 110. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Bride Colonial Chapel, 110 E Spring St. in Manly, and one hour prior to services on Saturday at the church. Active casket bearers will be Rick, Alan and Chris Oltman, Marcie and Mark Hoffman, Ross Harder, Robert E. and Todd Wyatt and Greg and Jeffrey Stanley.

Honorary casket bearers will be David Lawyer, Wayne Northway, Harold Parker, James Schumburg, George Hargis and C.J. Stoffer. The family of Robert Culver has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Bethel United Methodist Church or to Hospice of North Iowa in his memory.

Robert Rush Culver was born On Sept. 9, 1920 in St. Ansgar, Iowa, the son of Rush and Emma (Holden) Culver. He attended and received his education in the Manly school system, graduating from Manly High School in 1938. After graduating from high school, he attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette for two years. He enlisted on Oct. 3, 1942, and was inducted into active duty in the U.S. Army on July 27,1943, and was trained as a cryptographer in the Signal Corps.

He served overseas in the Pacific Theater in Calcutta, India, during WWII. After his honorable discharge on May 26, 1946, he came back to Manly, and in the fall of 1946,he enrolled at the University of Iowa and graduated with a B.A. degree in journalism in 1948.

Robert moved back to Manly and went into partnership with his dad at the Manly Signal newspaper. After his dad retired, he took over the newspaper as editor and publisher in 1950. He was united in marriage to Marjorie Wyatt on August 3,1952, in Hudson,Iowa. After their marriage, together they owned and operated the Manly Signal until they retired in 1994 as a third-generation editor and publisher of the weekly newspaper. He enjoyed golfing, tennis, sports and living part-time in Clear Lake, but his great love and enjoyment was his family.

He was a member of the Bethel United Methodist Church in Manly, over 50 year member of the Edward Tosel American Legion Post 110 of Manly, over 50 year member of the Grand Lodge AF&AM. Heather Hill Chapter OES, Manly Lions Club, Manly Jaycees, Hawkeye Press Club, Scoutmaster for eight years, secretary of the Manly Rural Telephone Co.,and was the city clerk in Manly for more than 25 years.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marjorie Culver, of Manly, two sons, Dale Culver and his wife Ann, of Ames, and David Culver and his wife Diane of Iowa City, three grandchildren, Alex and Evan Culver of Ames, and Emily Culver of Iowa City, two sisters, Dorothy Stanley of Littleton,Col., and Beverly Oltman of Cedar Falls, eight nephews and one niece, as well as other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his uncle/stepfather, William W. Wood, a nephew, Douglas Stanley, three brothers-in-law, Jack Stanley, Max Oltman and Robert F. Wyatt.

Bride Colonial Chapel, (641) 454-2242