Robert 'Bob' Edwards

ROBERT “BOB“ E. EDWARDS

Iowa City

Robert "Bob" E. Edwards, 90, of Iowa City, died at the Solon Nursing Care Center on the morning of Jan. 30, 2022. Due to the ongoing pandemic, services will be private. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. The family plans to host a celebration of Bob's life when it is more safe to gather together. Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service is handling arrangements. Instead of flowers and plants, the family suggests memorials to St. Mary's Church, the Regina Foundation or Iowa City Hospice.

Bob was born Nov. 11, 1931, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City to Estell and Helen (Halter) Edwards. In 1942, Bob's parents died when he was 10 years old, and his brother Bill only three. They were raised by Nick and Thecla (Halter) Scheetz. The Scheetz's were already parents to eight children when Bob and Bill entered the picture. Bob and Bill considered them all as siblings, and were forever grateful to Nick and Thecla for taking them in at their time of need. In 1949, Bob graduated from Cosgrove High School. He served in the Army from 1952-1954 during the Korean War. Upon arriving back home, he worked four years at Protein Blenders in Iowa City before joining the Iowa City Fire Department in 1958. Known as Slim to his fellow fireman, Bob loved his job and everyone he worked with until his retirement in 1987. Bob was a life-long member of St. Mary's Church in Iowa City. He was an avid Hawkeye fan for many years. He loved basketball, football and baseball at both the college and high school level. Many years were spent helping the Regina Booster Club by selling tickets at games, flipping pancakes at the Johnson County Fair and helping with the fish frys. In 2012, Bob was honored for his service with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Regina.

On Sept. 24, 1956, Bob married Mary Ellen Grace of Tiffin at St. Mary's in Iowa City. To that union, three sons were born, Jeffrey, Steven and Mark. Many years were spent helping with Boy Scouts, going to basketball and baseball games, fishing, camping and enjoying family vacations together, painting houses, bowling in several city leagues, playing slow pitch softball for the fire department and other teams, and playing cards with his friends at Cosgrove.

Bob is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Ellen; sons, Jeff (Rita) of Iowa City, Steven (Kathy) of O'Fallon, Mo., and Mark (Kathy) of Morrisville, N.C.; step-granddaughters, Katie (Jared) Steffen and their children, Owen, Liam and Amelia of Iowa City; Kara Rector and her children, Maggie and Max of Ankeny, Iowa; and countless other family and friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Estell and Helen Edwards; brother, Bill; and extended family members, Nick and Thecla Scheetz and their children, Evelyn, Paul, Ann, Cletus, Viola, Irene, Bill and Ray, as well as brother and sisters-in-law, William "Doc" and Julia Chalmers, Bill and Betty Grace.

The Edward's family would like to thank all the staff at the Solon Nursing Care Center for their kind and compassionate care of their husband and father over his final years. It will never be forgotten.

Condolences: www.lensingfuneral.com.