ROBERT HERINGTON

ROBERT HERINGTON

CEDAR RAPIDS

Robert (Bob) Herington, 1230 English Lane NE, Unit 225, Cedar Rapids, formerly of Hopkinton, passed away peacefully Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, at the Lantern Park Care Center, Coralville, after a three-year courageous battle with renal end kidney disease.

He was born Oct. 3, 1932, at the John McDonald Hospital in Monticello, Iowa, to George Dale Herington and Sarah Kenny Herington.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, William Herington; and sister, Alice Cruise.

He graduated from Hopkinton High School in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army (1953-55) during the Korean conflict as a crane operator in Germany. Upon his return home, he began farming with his dad and later purchased his own farms. He also did seasonal truck driving for many years for Innovative Ag (formerly Swiss Valley) delivering products to the farmers.

Bob was a member of the United Methodist Church in Hopkinton for over 50 years, and after moving to Cedar Rapids in 2001 became a member of Olivet Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids.

He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 311, Hopkinton, and received his 50-year pin in 2011 from the Burns Masonic Lodge No. 173 in Monticello.

Bob had a passion for farming, the outdoors and was a good steward of the land. He subscribed to over a dozen farm magazines. He was always interested in farming methods used by people around the world. He was also a history buff and had a great memory. His favorite pleasure on a Sunday afternoon was driving for hours through the countryside observing fields of crops and then stopping for ice cream cones.

The highlight event of 2014 was going on the September Veterans Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. It was a long day, but he was still beaming when he got home at midnight.

On April 12, 1979, he was united in marriage to Delores R. Weston by the Rev. Paul Figge, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Tipton.

Surviving beside his wife are nephew, Steve Herington (Jan) of Hopkinton; an aunt, Elaine Hinsvark-Price of Fort Myers, Fla.; and many cousins. Also surviving are the extended family of Steve Weston (Becky), Cedar Rapids, Roxanne Davis (Garey), Lake Milton, Ohio, and Russ Weston (Missy), Olathe, Kan.; seven grandchildren and three and three-quarters great-grandchildren.

Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the family. The body is being cremated, so there will be no visitation. Private graveside services will be held later at the Herington family plot in the Hopkinton Cemetery.

Memorial contribrutions in Bob's honor may be directed to Olivet Presbyterian Church, 237 10th St. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405.

The family wants to thank the oncology doctors at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the veterans hospital doctors in Iowa City, the nurses and social workers at Lantern Park Care Center, Care Initiatives Hospice , Cedar Rapids, and Chaplain Jim Goodrich for their love and kindness during the last hours.

Also, thanks to the employees at West Ridge Care Center, Cedar Rapids, and Hiawatha Care Center for their excellent care of Bob. We appreciated the discussion on "end of life issues" with Dr. James Bell, medical director, Palliative Hospice Care-UnityPoint, who is tops in his field and a genuine caring person. We especially want to thank our pastor, the Rev. Sonda Kirsteatter, of Olivet Presbyterian Church, for her prayers, love and spiritual guidance.