Cooksley, Robert J.

Robert J. Cooksley, Jr., 43, of Urbana, Iowa, died suddenly Sunday afternoon, March 7, 2010, at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence, Iowa.

Bob was born on June 17, 1966, in Fort Dix, N.J., the son of Robert and Paula (Leona) Cooksley, Sr. He was raised in the Rowley, Iowa, area and was a 1984 graduate of St. John's Catholic High School, Independence, Iowa, and received an accounting degree from the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. He was united in marriage to Ann Miller in 1989; the couple later divorced. On Aug. 18, 2007, he was married to Shiela Ann Sweeting at their home in Urbana. Bob was employed with ERBS Business Machines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Surviving is his wife, Shiela, Urbana; three children, Tyler, Ryan and Holly Cooksley, all of Independence; his parents, Bob and Paula Cooksley, Sherrard, Ill.; a brother, Scott (Michelle) Cooksley, Quasqueton, Iowa; his parents-in-law, Darwin and Linda Sweeting, Center Point, Iowa; and brother and sister-in-law, Susan (Kurt) Morris, and Ben (Molly Sanderson) Sweeting all of Center Point, Iowa; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. John's Catholic Church, Independence, with Rev. Paul McManus officiating. Burial will be in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Reiff Funeral Home & Crematory in Independence where a parish vigil service will be held at 7 p.m.

For more information or to leave an online condolence please go to under obituaries.