Robert Emmert Juhl

     Robert Emmert Juhl, the son of Emmert Alfred and Shirley Mae ( Edinger) Juhl, was born February 22, 1959, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa and died March 17, 2023. At the Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa at the age of 64 years and 25days.

     Robert was baptized and confirmed at the Exira Lutheran Church. He attended the Exira Community Schools graduating from the Exira High School with the Class of 1978. Following graduation, Robert was employed with a trenching company.

In 1980, Robert was united in marriage to Mary Ann McConnell at the Exira Lutheran Church. They were blessed with three daughters Janet, Stephanie, and Sandy. In 1982, Robert enlisted into the U.S. Airforce. He received his basic training in Texas and then was stationed in North Carolina and later in California. During his tour of duty, he worked as an airplane mechanic. Robert was honorably discharged in 1986. He moved to Des Moines, Iowa and attended the Des Moines Area Community College and studied auto mechanics. Following graduation, he was employed by a dealership in Des Moines for a number of years. He returned to Exira and worked as a mechanic at Westside Auto for a short time. Robert moved to Aurelia, Iowa and was employed by Tyson Foods. He worked at load and maintenance until he had to retire due to his failing health. Robert lived in a number of communities before he returned to Exira.

     Robert was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Alta, Iowa. He was a member of the Brayton American Legion Post 350 in Brayton, Iowa. Robert enjoyed cooking, gardening, and canning the produce from his garden. He raised chickens, ducks, sheep, and was dabbling in wine making. Robert enjoyed camping, fishing and playing his favorite card game pinochle. He loved to watch westerns and playing records on his grandfather’s Victrola player. Robert was known for his tremendous wit and his great sense of humor and he enjoyed teasing his family and many friends. Often times he would suddenly quote scripture.

     Robert was preceded in death by his father Emmert A. Juhl; his grandparents Alfred and Mary Juhl and Charles and Cleo Edinger.

     Survivors include his mother Shirley Juhl of Exira, Iowa; his daughters Janet Juhl of Atlantic, Iowa, Stephanie Juhl of Enid, Oklahoma, and Sandy Juhl of Brayton, Iowa; his grandchildren Anna Juhl and Milo Juhl both of Enid, Oklahoma, and Alicia Juhl of Brayton, Iowa; his brother and sisters Sharon Juhl of Fayetteville, Tennessee and her children Jon and Megan, Karen and husband Al Ruch of Dayton, Ohio and their children Allison, Greg, and Kelly, and William and wife Marie Juhl of Lexington, South Carolina and their sons Zachary and Jared; his friend, caregiver, and companion Ruth Westergaard of Exira, Iowa; his beloved longtime furry companion Eli; special children and grandchildren Cheri Erickson and sons Caleb, Ethan, and Jacob Erickson all of Shakopee, Minnesota, Curtis and wife Shirley Westergaard and Matt Blunk of Denison, Iowa, Chris and Christopher Westergaard of Bloomington, Minnesota; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

     The family will meet with friends on Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. The Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be conducted by Pastor Kelly Pedersen on Saturday morning, April 15, 2023, at 10:30 A.M. at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. Inurnment will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Kimballton, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers will be Robert Nymand, Randy Krogh, Greg Ruch, Jon Juhl, Milo Juhl, Zachary Juhl, Jared Juhl, Curtis Westergaard, Christopher Westergaard, Caleb Erickson, Ethan Erickson, and Jacob Erickson.