Robert A. Harris

ROBERT A. HARRIS

Toledo

Robert A. Harris, 64, of Toledo, Iowa, and formerly of Swisher, Iowa, died on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at the American Legion Hall in Swisher. Smith Funeral Home of Grinnell is handling arrangements.

Should friends desire, memorials may be directed to the Robert Harris Memorial Fund and sent in care of Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.

Robert was born on June 27, 1953, in Bethany, Mo., to Charles and Elizabeth Lesan Harris. The family moved to Cedar Rapids, where he was raised and attended public schools. He was a member of the class of 1971 of Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids. As a teenager, he worked for the Upmier Riding Stables in Cedar Rapids.

On Feb. 8, 1975, he was united in marriage to Deborah DeCoster in Cedar Rapids, and to this marriage was born two children, Josh and Teresa. The couple lived in Cedar Rapids and moved to Swisher in 1977. He was employed at Farm Service in Cedar Rapids and later worked as a carpenter for Custom Cabinets and Millwork in Cedar Rapids.

Robert enjoyed outdoor activities such as camping, fishing and deer hunting. He also enjoyed cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Survivors include his children, Josh (Angela) Harris of Indianola and Teresa (Trevor) Mercure of Gilroy, Calif.; six grandchildren, two brothers, Rick and Casey Harris, both of Marion; and two sisters, Alice Mulholland of Bertram and Carol Harris of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents.