Robert Voels

ROBERT VOELS

Cedar Rapids

Robert J. Voels, 90, passed away peacefully at Evergreen Estates Residential Care Center just before noon Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, with both sons by his side. Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, at St.

Columbkille Catholic Church, Dubuque, with a Mass of Christian Burial and Resurrection. Following Mass, the committal service will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery Chapel, Key West. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11:15 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

Bob was born Oct. 6, 1924, at the family home in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of Elmer and Anna (Nesen) Voels. He graduated from Sacred Heart Grade School and Loras Academy and attended Loras College, leaving college to help support his widowed mother. He married Sally A. McCauley on Sept. 6, 1958, at St. Columbkille Church. They had 39 wonderful years together before God called his beloved Sally to her eternal home on Oct. 3, 1997.

Bob spent 88 years living in Dubuque, then a year transitioning, living with each of his sons and then spent his last year at Evergreen Estates.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in his youth and then for over 55 years at St. Columbkille's Parish, where he served on the Parish Council as the finance chair and the Fall Festival committee.

Bob was a sports fan his entire life. If there was a University of Iowa, Notre Dame or White Sox game playing, you could always find him in front of the TV to cheer them on. He stayed up late to watch the Chicago White Sox finally become the World Series champions in 2005 after spending 80 years as a loyal fan. He was always in the stands cheering for his children's and then grandchildren's sports games, band, drama and academic achievements.

He was an avid golfer his entire life, playing on Saturday mornings during his working years and then could be found on the links almost daily with a great group of friends in retirement. He had the excitement of not just one, but actually two hole-in-ones during his golfing days.

He played basketball and baseball in school and city leagues for many years and was honored to be inducted into the Dubuque County Fast Pitch Hall of Fame in 1991.

Bob was a great bowler as well, playing in many leagues and with his family over many years.

He was an accomplished ice skater and worked at city park ice rinks through school and was up late and early to flood and maintain the rinks for other skaters.

Bob never shied away from an invitation to play cards in Iowa or in Texas when visiting his son. He was a member of the Tri-State Bridge Club with a wonderful group of friends for many years and a regular Euchre player with a small group of special friends through retirement. When his memory started to challenge him later in life, he would always say that he wasn't sure he remembered how to play the card game or Dominoes, but then typically ended up winning with a big smile on his face.

During retirement, he was a member of the Friday Lunch Bunch, meeting first at the Busy Bee and then at Breezy's Cafe for many years, reminiscing weekly with friends from his youth.

He enjoyed extensive travel, taking his family across most of the country while growing up on the annual family car vacations, which always included away games for the White Sox. His travel continued into retirement with many trips with Sally to Las Vegas and other places around the country and then later trips to Disney World with his son, Bob's family, and several cruises with his son, Steve.

He worked with A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. his entire career, retiring in 1992 as manager of marketing services after 45 years serving in many different capacities from assistant to the president, inventory control manager and ultimately leading the marketing services team.

All who met Bob soon knew that he was a kind and gentle man with a quiet strength and always cheerful attitude. He enjoyed a long and wonderful life and will be missed by his family and all who knew him.

Surviving are his two sons, Bob (Donna) Voels of Cedar Rapids and Steve Voels of Frisco, Texas; four grandchildren, Sarah, Allison, Ian and Matt Voels; a sister, Ann (Paul) Cremer of Kansas City, Mo.; a brother-in-law and his wife, Frank (Fay) McCauley of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Sally; his precious daughter, Barb A. Voels Pettit; his siblings, Elma (Al) Howe, Lucile (Carl) Kleeman, Bud (Betty) Voels, Father David Voels and Jeanne (Paul) Schramm; and his in-laws, Mike (JoAnn) McCauley.

Memorials may be given in his name to the American Cancer Society as a tribute to his wife and daughter.

Bob's family wishes to extend a special thank-you to the staff and residents at Evergreen Estate Residential Care Center, where he lived for the last year, for their wonderful care, support and friendship.

The Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory in Dubuque is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to www.egelhof siegertcasper.com.