Ormsby, Robert J.

Robert J. Ormsby, 76, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, at Evergreen Estates III. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church, by Father Thomas McDermott. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, where a vigil service will begin at 6 p.m., and from 9:30 a.m. until the service at the church on Tuesday. Burial: St. Joseph's Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce; his children, Robert T. (Julie) Ormsby, Indianola, Mary (Mike) Pinski, Goodyear, Ariz., Karen (Jim) Ratz, Hiawatha, Teresa (Greg) Ortmann, Cedar Rapids, and Laurie (Mike) Deinhammer, Apple Valley, Minn.; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two brothers, Richard (Julie), Palm Springs, Calif., and Ronald (Ona), Lake Charles, La.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his twin sister, Betty Heitzman.

Robert was born Feb. 16, 1933, the son of Robert and Beatrice (Maloney) Ormsby, in rural Monona, Iowa. On April 15, 1961, he married Joyce Ott in Waterloo. For 28 years, Robert worked for Cherry Burrell-Evergreen. Robert was a member of the UAW and a 46-year member of the St. Ludmila Catholic Church, where he served as a mass server.

An avid reader, Robert was involved in Cub Scouts and enjoyed watching the History Channel. He also enjoyed farming, tractors, barns and anything mechanical. Robert loved to travel and see the landscape of Iowa, especially Iowa courthouses, county fairs and farms.

Instead of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Ludmila's Church Building Fund in memory of Robert.

Please sign the online guest book for Robert at under obituaries.