Rev. Robert R. MACCANON

MACCANON, MITCHELL, BROWN, FARNBACH, TEPASKE, HERRICK, CURTIS, SHAFER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/1/2009 at 12:17:06

The Gazette, Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA
January 8, 1998

The Rev. Robert R. MacCanon, 78, of Marshalltown, formerly of Toledo, died Monday, Jan. 5, 1998, in Grandview Heights Care Center, Marshalltown, following a long illness. Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Hope United Methodist Church, Marshalltown, by the Rev. Leonard Sjogren. Burial: 2:30 p.m. Friday, Cass Township Cemetery, Webster City. Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. today at Pursel-Davis Funeral Home & Crematory, Marshalltown, where the family will be present from 4 to 8 p.m.

Survivors include his wife, Verla; three daughters, Mrs. Donald (Janice) Mitchell of Marshalltown, Marilyn Brown of Milwaukee and Mrs. Darrell (Rebecca) Farnbach of Temecula, Calif.; two brothers, Dr. Donald M. MacCanon of Gaithersburg, Md., and Dr. F. Richard MacCanon of Lakeland, Fla.; two sisters, Delight TePaske of Englewood, Fla., and Mrs. William (Rosemary) Herrick of Walnut Grove, Calif.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, E. Curtis MacCanon.

He was born Aug. 25, 1919, in Chariton, the son of the Rev. G.E. and Edna Ruth Curtis MacCanon. He graduated from Webster City High School in 1936 and York College in York, Neb., in 1940. He married Verla Jeanne Shafer on Aug. 31, 1941, in Webster City. In 1943, he graduated from Bonebrake Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, with a Master of Divinity. He began his 42-year career in the United Methodist Church ministry in Garwin from 1943 to 1945, and continued it in Moville from 1945 to 1947; Toledo, 1947 to 1953; Hubbard, 1953 to 1959; Grace United Methodist Church, Marshalltown, from 1959 to 1970; Sumner, 1970 to 1974; and Fort Dodge-Epworth, 1974 to 1981. He retired in June 1981, but continued pastoring in Washington, Iowa, from 1981 to 1987, and Toledo from 1987 to 1996. He moved to Marshalltown in 1996. During his career, he was involved in several organizations within the United Methodist Church, including Iowa United Methodist Conference secretary from 1951 to 1970; voting delegate of six general conferences and one jurisdictional conference; delegate to World Methodist Conference in 1971; chairman of Summer Assembly Committee of Cedar Falls for 15 years; trustee of Friendship Haven, Fort Dodge; spiritual leader for Holy Land tour in 1977; sang with Singing Grandpas in Washington; member of noon Kiwanis Club, Marshalltown; Rotary Club, Sumner and Fort Dodge; Full Gospel Business Men International and served on various local and conference boards. A memorial fund has been established in his name.