Robert Hemming

Robert Bob Hemming, 84, of the Eldora Nursing and Rehab Center, formerly of Woodward, died Friday, May 6, at the Eldora Nursing and Rehab Center while in their care and that of the Iowa River Hospice. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 16, at the First Presbyterian Church in Marshalltown with Dr. Rich King officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Highland Memory Gardens in Des Moines at 2:30 p.m. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Memorials may be directed to Iowa River Hospice or 1st Presbyterian Church in his memory. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234. Born Robert Weston Hemming on August 5, 1926, in Mason City, Iowa, he was the son of George Roller and Marion Clarice (Piersol) Hemming. He graduated from the Lincoln High School in Des Moines in 1944.He later served our country honorably in the United States Navy in WWII until receiving his honorable discharge on June 11, 1946. On October 26, of that same year, he was united in marriage to Betty Beveridge at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Des Moines. The couple resided in Des Moines on 39th Street from their marriage until 1969 and then on 2nd Street in Woodward from 1969 to 1985. Bob was employed with Meredith Publishing for 37 years. Betty died on January 29, 1984. In 1985, Robert moved to Daytona Beach, FL. In 1987, he married his family friend, JoeAnn Pennock. She preceded him in death on April 13, 2001. In September of 2007, he moved back to Iowa to be near his son, Patrick and his family. He lived at the Bickford Cottage in Marshalltown before moving to Eldora in 2008. Mr. Hemming was a member of the Lions Club, the Woodward and Southgate Lodge of the VFW, the American Legion, served as president of the USS Cleveland CL-55 reunions for many years and served as mayor of Woodward for 12 years. He enjoyed stamp and coin collecting, fishing, watching sports on TV and treasured the time with his family. Left to cherish his memory are his son Patrick (Mary) Hemming of Albion, grandchildren- Philip (Kate) Hemming of Pella, Sarah (Joe) Hemming-Meyer of Monroe and Josh (Heather) Hemming of San Diego, CA. his great-grandchildren Parker and Palmer Hemming of Pella, Mackenzie Hemming of San Diego, daughter-in-law Margot Hemming and his sister Marilyn Schmidt of Pace, FL. In death, Bob rejoined his parents, his wives Betty in 1984 and JoeAnn in 2001, his daughter Debra Sue in 2004 and son, Rick in 2010.