Robert and Phyllis Wetherbee

ROBERT AND PHYLLIS WETHERBEE

Cedar Rapids

Robert Wetherbee was born in Worcester, Mass., on Jan. 18, 1937. Robert passed away Sept. 5, 2017, in Fitchburg, Mass., of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Phyllis Wetherbee was born Phyllis Dubois in Worcester, Mass., on May 20, 1939. Phyllis passed away on May 4, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo.

Per our parents' request with each other, Robert and Phyllis' obituaries were held until they were both together. Per their request of our parents, Robert and Phyllis Wetherbee had a private graveside service for family in Paxton, Mass., on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. Robert had full military honors for his service in the Navy.

Our parents, Robert Wetherbee and Phyllis Wetherbee, had known each other since they were both in middle school, growing up across the street from each other and staying close most of their lives. Robert went into the military at age 18 in 1955. He went on to serve for 20 years in the Navy. Robert then enjoyed being a deputy sheriff in Harrison County, Miss., and a second deputy for the Linn County Sheriff's Department in Cedar Rapids. Phyllis worked as a nurse in Gulfport, Miss., and Cedar Rapids.

Robert and Phyllis each went on to marry someone else. Robert had five children and Phyllis had five children, but they just seemed to never forget each other, rekindling their relationship. They were married on May 6, 1965. Robert and Phyllis then had two children together. We became the yours, mine, and ours family. They had 49 loving, interesting, adventurous, loud and funny entertaining years together.

Robert and Phyllis had so much in common. They loved camping, reading, gardening and fishing. They were both very involved with the lowa caucus and the Linn County Sheriff's Department Association. They loved throwing parties for all their friends, coworkers and family. Phyllis hated cooking, but she was very good at it, and she loved to bake for our father and his sweet tooth.

They loved their 11 children. They had 26 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

Robert was preceded in death by his daughter, Leslie; his father, Clifford (wife Emily) Wetherbee; and mother, Grace (husband Robert) Liberty.

Mom was preceded in death by her mother, Katherine Shustak (husband Michael).

Robert loved his siblings. He had three brothers, Dickey Wetherbee (Betty Ann) of Florida, Clifford of Texas and Bobby Liberty (Kathy) of Massachusetts; and sisters, Lori (Kooch) Hastings of Massachusetts, Lisa (Paul) Fennuecio of Massachusetts, Susan Mahlert of Massachusetts, Barbara St. Jean (Jim) of South Carolina and Gay Penttila and (Donald) of Florida. Our parents loved all of their many nieces and nephews.

Children of Mom and Dad are Kevin McDonald of Cedar Rapids, Kathy Lutz of Cedar Rapids, Robert Wetherbee of Cedar Rapids, Kristy Bayer of Maddison, Tenn., Stacy Gearhart of Cedar Rapids, Karla Dennis of Maddison, Marion Luoma (husband Jon) of Westminster, Mass., Koreena (Bill) Taylor of New Mexico, Laura Stacy (Dave) of Ashburnham, Mass., Jennifer Wetherbee of North Shore, La., and Jeffrey Wetherbee (Christine) of Chesterfield, Va.