Obituaries : Robert “Bob” Zieser

Robert "Bob" Zieser, loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away peacefully on Friday, March 4, 2022, surrounded by loving family. He spent his final days at the Hiawatha Care Center following the trauma of a fall.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 11th at St. Mary's Church in Urbana. Burial will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery rural Urbana. A visitation will be held at the church from 4:20 p.m. until 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 10th.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Mary's Catholic Church, The American Legion, or a charity of your choice.

Bob was born on April 20, 1933, in a farmhouse north of Urbana; the same house where he would live for nearly his entire life; raising his 8 children there. He graduated from Urbana High School in 1950 and married Mary Helen Hepker on February 10, 1953. Shortly after, he was called to join the Korean Conflict, where he served our nation for nearly 2 years. Upon completion of his military service, he returned to farm and raise his family.

In addition to farming, raising his family, and attending many sporting events, Bob was active in his community as a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Urbana Lions Club, The American Legion, and the Urbana School board.

Bob loved nothing more than being surrounded by family. He was loving, kind, devoted and generous. In his later years, he was blessed to be able to split his time between his Midwest family in the summer and his Southwest family in the winter. He will be missed by all but never forgotten.

Bob is survived by his companion of 12 years, Ruth Atwood, his children Jeanne (Dick) Rambo, Jesup, Barbara (Steve) Murphy, Cedar Rapids, James (Gloria) Zieser, Urbana, Donna (Dave) Kelty, Urbana, Peggy (Mike) Hayes, Los Lunas, NM, Sandy (Jim) Ham, Grinnell, Chris (Phil) Weltsch, Mesa, AZ, son-in-law Jeff Kisling, Phoenix, AZ. Bob is also survived by 24 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, and siblings Clifford Zieser and Dora Mae Coleman.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 plus years, Mary Helen (Hepker) Zieser on March 22, 2008, and his daughter Connie Kisling on July 12, 2007, both of whom welcomed him to heaven with open arms. Also preceding him in death were his parents Herman and Mary Zieser, and five siblings; Edna Takes, Don Zieser, Pauline Hosch, Eleanor Hosch, and Carl Zieser.

Phillips Funeral Home, Vinton, is handling arrangements

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com