Pate, Robert T. 'Bob'

Robert T. “Bob” Pate, 83, lifetime area farmer died Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, at the Iowa City Nursing and Rehab Center. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, with entombment to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. O.E.S memorial services will be in conjunction with the funeral services. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home where Masonic Memorial Rites will be at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Bob's memory to the Alzheimer's Foundation.

Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web at .

Robert Thomas Pate was born June 19, 1928, in Iowa City, the son of Richard M. and Della M. (Albright) Pate. He attended Iowa City Schools graduating from City High School in 1946. Bob was united in marriage to Shirley M. Lewis on July 30, 1950, at the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City. He served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. For most of his life he farmed in rural Johnson County. For over 38 years he enjoyed driving school bus for the Iowa City school district, a familiar smile to hundreds of school kids over the years. Bob was a very active member of both the O.E.S. and the Masonic Lodge, holding offices at both the local and state levels.

His family includes his wife, Shirley; daughters, Susan Snyder (Curtis) of San Diego, Calif., Barbara Whillick (Jeffrey) of Kenmare N.D., Ellen, Gunderson (Les) of Springdale, and Marilyn Jones (Richard) of Dubuque; a son, Stephen Pate (Peggy) of DeKalb, Ill.; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a brother and his wife, Richard and Ruth Pate of Iowa City.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Published in The Gazette Oct. 5, 2011.