Peterson, Robert Dean 'Bob'

Robert Dean “Bob” Peterson, 81, of Potosi, Wis., formerly of Gilman, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, June 20, 2013, at home following a sudden illness.

Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 24, 2013, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd., Dubuque. Friends may also call from 10 a.m. until noon Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at the Gilman Community Church, 310 West Church Street, Gilman, Iowa, where there will be a funeral service at noon with the Rev. Judy Brandon officiating. Burial will follow at Prairie View Cemetery in Gilman with military honors accorded.

Bob was born on Nov. 6, 1931, near Gilman, Iowa, the son of Carl Gilbert and R. Marie (Campbell) Peterson. He graduated from Gilman High School and attended Marshalltown Community College and Iowa State University. He served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps in combat during the Korean War, and on Aug. 30, 1956, he married JoAnn Gary Berger. She preceded him in death in 1998.

He started working at Iowa Electric in 1955 and worked his way up to a Chief Engineer in Marshalltown and later to Manager of Fossil Generation in Cedar Rapids. He later founded I.E.I. Barge Services in East Dubuque, Ill, which he operated until his retirement. In retirement he worked for Newt Marine in Dubuque. He was a member of the American Legion and the Elks Lodge 40 & 8.

Bob loved life, his family, and friends. He embraced life's challenges and was an eternal optimist. He had an easy smile and was genuinely interested in everyone he met. He always loved the river and in later years his greatest enjoyment was his time working and spending time with Rosie McClain and her family, especially Mark on the farm. He was extremely proud of both of his families.

Those left to cherish his memory include his mother, Marie, of Grinnell; children, Dan (LeAnn) Berger of Waukee, Linda Sue (Harry) Landas of Omaha, Scott Peterson of Cedar Rapids, Lori (Jim) White of Robins, and Holly (Duke) Wall of Indiana; his grandchildren, Brandon (Erica) Landas, Nate (Amy) Landas, Alexia Peterson, Clifton White, and Annie, Maggie (Shane), Jamie (Jordan), Wall; four great-grandchildren, Ava, Easton, Xavier, and Dominic; brothers, Edgar (Bi) Peterson of Guthrie Center, and Roger (Dorothy) Peterson of Grinnell; sisters, Marilyn (Bob) Postal of California, and Carol Sandberg of Nebraska; and many nieces and nephews.

Although he loved our mother he also found a second true love with Rosie McClain and her family, Mark (Mary Jo Ament) McClain, Tom (Denise) McClain, Maureen (Sean) George, and Marty (Tammy) McClain.

He was preceded in death by his father, Carl; and wife, JoAnn.

The family would like to thank Mark and Christy Sheldon and the rest of the Mississippi River Cottage Crew for being great friends of Bob's. “Cheers to a life well lived.”

Published June 23, 2013, in The Gazette