Robert R. Larson

Robert R. Larson, age 87, of Dows, passed away Monday March 11, 2013 at the Franklin General Hospital in Hampton.

Memorials services for Robert R. Larson will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday March 16, 2013 at the Presbyterian Church in Dows. Pastor Shelly will officiate. Inurnment will take place in the Fairview cemetery in Dows at a later date. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Watson Beach Post #523 of Dows.

Visitation for Robert R. Larson will be from 10:00 A.M. until servie-time at the church on Saturday. The Dugger Funeral Home, 100 North Lee Street in Dows is in charge of local arrangements.

Robert Rae, the son of Arthur and Florence Dielman Larson was born July 22, 1925 in Dows. He was the youngest of seven children. Robert grew up in Dows, and graduated from Dows High School in 1942 at the age of sixteen. Before the age of 18, Robert joined the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Machinist Mate 3rd Class. He was stationed in Hilo, HI. He was honorably discharged in 1947 and returned to Iowa.

Robert was united in marriage to Marjorie Loats on April 29, 1949 at the United Methodist Church in Belmond. The couple lived their entire married lives in Dows, except for four years when they owned the A&W Drive Inn in Hampton. Robert and Marjorie were blessed with two daughters, Valerie and Polly. They returned to Dows in 1962, where Bob ran a construction crew. In 1967, he was appointed Post Master at the Dow’s office. He retired in 1988. Robert kept busy in his retirement and loved his home town Dows. If there was a job to be done, or projects to be constructed, in Dows, he had a hand in doing it. He was a 72 year member of the Presbyterian Church, a member of the American Legion, member and past president of the Dows Golf Course and he was a city council member, three different terms. Bob became an EMT in 1974 and served with the Dows Ambulance several years. He enjoyed cooking fish for the Legion’s Annual Fish Suppers and flipping pancakes for the Presbyterian Annual Pancake Sausage Suppers. He enjoyed teaching his two daughters and two grandsons the art of catching fish? He loved wood-working and enjoyed making items for family and friends. Robert has suffered from dementia for several years and had been living n the FGH Nursing Home in Hampton for the last six years.

Robert is survived by his wife of over 63 years, Marjorie, daughter, Polly Eide and friend Cecil Poyner of Cedar Falls, son-in-law, John Kittell of Bremerton, WA, two grandsons, Major Robert Kittell and Heather and their daughter Brooke of Centennial, CO, John Kittell and Barbara, and their children, Drew and Allison of Seattle, WA, a sister, LaVonne Greene of Manhattan, KS and numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Valerie Kittell, son-in-law, John Eide, one sister, Viola, four brothers, Max, Donan, Charles, and Arthur.