Robert Spencer

Robert Franklin Spencer, the son of Franklin and Frances Olsen Spencer, was born April 15, 1925, at his parents’ home in Missouri Valley, Iowa and died October 4, 2011, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 86 years, 5 months, and 19 days. Bob was baptized and at the Lutheran Church in Missouri Valley. He attended Missouri Valley Community Schools and graduated from the Missouri Valley High School with the Class of 1943. On July 1, 1943, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During his tour of duty he was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas and was a gunner on a PBY aircraft. He was honorably discharged on April 26, 1946. He returned to Missouri Valley and was employed by the Union-Pacific Railroad for several years. He then moved to Ames, Iowa and was employed as a surveyor for Lechnar Engineering. On June 1, 1949, he was united in marriage to Shirley Deloras Peterson at the Exira Christian Church Parsonage in Exira, Iowa. One son Steven was born to this union. Bob then was employed as the assistant County Engineer For Audubon County and later in Shelby County, Iowa for several years. He then was a surveyor for Abild Engineering in Atlantic, Iowa for a number of years. Bob worked for the City of Audubon until he retired then worked part time for several years. Bob and Shirley enjoyed yard work and spent many hours grooming their lawn. They lived in their home until they moved to the Friendship Home in Audubon in 2005. Shirley died March 20, 2006. Bob was a member of Dale Christensen Post No. 4119, Audubon, V.F.W. and a member of the Audubon Post No. 120, American Legion, He belonged to the National Rifle Association and the Iowa Fire Fighters Association. Bob had been a member of the Audubon Fire Department for over 53 years. Bob was preceded in death by his wife Shirley; his parents; his brother Leonard and wife Fern Spencer; his brothers-in-law and sister-in-law Laverne Peterson, Leroy Peterson, and Marjorie and husband Oliver Turner. Survivors include his son Steven and wife Sharon of Marysville, California; his granddaughters Tamara and husband Robert Gaschke of Yuba City, California and Annette and husband Jack Irwin of Wheatland, California: his great grandchildren Matthew Walz of Marysville, Katelyn Irwin and Cara Irwin both of Wheatland; his sister Betty Jean and husband Henry Marquardt of Missouri Valley, Iowa, his sister-in-law Mary Ann Peterson of Audubon, Iowa, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, at 2:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Monday evening at 7:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa