Church, C. Robert – 1920-2010

ABEL, ALLSPACH, CHURCH, ELERDING, FAILOR, HAWTHORNE, JEFFRIES, JOHNSON, KLING, PASCALE, REECE, WERT, WIRT

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 10/11/2010 at 11:36:51

C. Robert “Bob” Church, 89, of Newton died on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, at the Iowa Veteran’s Home in Marshalltown.
A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton. Friends may call from noon until the time of service on Friday and then again after the service with a light lunch at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Newton Union Cemetery Veteran’s Section. Memorials to the VFW Post 1655 or the Iowa Veteran’s Home in Marshalltown may be left at the funeral home.
Bob was born on Dec. 14, 1920, to Arthur Bancroft and Carrie Esther (Reece) Church in New Providence, Iowa. He grew up in New Providence and graduated from the New Providence High School as the salutatorian of his class. Shortly after, he moved to Newton, Iowa, where he worked at JC Penney’s as a window dresser and a shoe and clothing salesperson. Bob served his country in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. While in the service, he was the head of the security detail when General McArthur did his “I Have Returned” walk. He also received a Bronze Star.
Bob was united in marriage with Lucile (Failor) Wert on May 31, 1947, in Bethany, Mo. They made their home in Newton. After working at JC Penney’s, Bob was a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, retiring in 1978. Bob raised, trained, showed and judged dogs and rabbits. He also trained hunting dogs and horses. He was a member of the Jasper County Gun Club, Central Iowa Woodcarvers, the Kennel Club and the VFW Post 1655.
Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, bowling, carpentry and working outdoors. He was also an avid sports fan. Bob was an accomplished wood carver. He exhibited and demonstrated his skills at the Iowa State Fair and won many awards for his carvings. Bob also loved his morning breakfasts and daily coffee times at the Snook Inn with the Snook Gang.
Those left to honor Bob’s memory are his wife, Lucile of Newton; two daughters, Roberta “Bobbe” (Byron) Allspach of Newton and Bette Lu (Jim) Kling of Newton; his two step-daughters, Tania M. Wirt of Hockley, Texas and Loretta L. (Jeff) Johnson of Albuquerque, N.M.; 10 grandchildren, Vernon, Freddy, Andy, Roy and Amy Wirt, Andrea Pascale, Susan Jeffries, Mark Church, Eric Hawthorne and Rachel Abel; his 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; his sister, Pauline Church of California; and sister-in-law, Violet Church of Chicago, Ill.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Martha E. Church; his sister, Agnes Elerding; and two brothers, George and Leonard Church.
Source: Newton Daily News; Thursday, October 7, 2010