Wilson, James Robert

James Robert Wilson, 62, died Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, after a battle with ALS.

James, better known as Bob, was born on Jan. 1, 1949, to LaVerne and Marie Wilson in Fairfield, Iowa. Bob served in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972, attaining the rank of Sergeant and served in Vietnam. He married Paula Joy Boyd on Nov. 26, 1977, in Fairfield, Iowa.

Bob lived in Cedar Rapids and was an employee at Rockwell Collins for 24 years and served as a systems and software engineer. He retired from Rockwell in February 2011.

Bob loved spending time at his farm in Ollie, Iowa, where he restored 200 acres of timber and crop land. He loved planting and tending his vegetable garden, maintaining the farm, teaching his daughters to shoot his guns, visiting with his friends and the annual “plow fest” at Scott Schrader's farm. Bob enjoyed spending time with his dogs, Dane and Penny, and teaching them tricks.

Bob is survived by his wife, Paula; daughter, Rachel Fenner (Luke) of Virginia Beach, Va.; daughter, Ashley Wilson of Cedar Rapids; brother, David Wilson of Cedar Rapids; sister, Diane Williams (Larry) of Gibson; sister, Barb Dyer (Greg) of Richland; stepbrother, Larry Miller (Janet) of Fairfield; stepsister, Janice Blackhorn (Bill) of Keosauqua; stepsister, Linda Carr of Libertyville; and many nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Marie L. Miller and C. Laverne Wilson; and stepfather, Dick Miller.

A celebration of life service in Bob's honor will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, at the El Kahir Shrine, 1400 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402. The family will share remembrances at 12:30 p.m. with military honors being held at 1 p.m. at the El Kahir Shrine.

Memorial contributions to the MDA-ALS Division of Eastern Iowa may be directed to the family.