Robert Howard

Mr. Robert M. Howard, 88, of Marshalltown, died Sunday, August 16th, at the Villa del Sol where he has resided since October of 2004. His death came peacefully with his wife at his side and while in care of the Villa del Sol and Iowa River Hospice. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, August 20th, at the Center Street Baptist Church with Pastor Hirsch Chizever officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph 641-844-1234. Born on November 29th, 1920, in Marshalltown, Iowa, at his grandmothers home on North 4th Avenue, he was the son of Ross M. and Gladys (Jones) Howard. He graduated from the Union High School in 1938. On May 2nd, 1942, he was united in marriage to Vera Byers in Unionville, MO. They made their home in Marshalltown for a short while until moving to the farm near Union. Bob farmed and did custom farm work and was employed with farm conservation programs. In 1964, the family moved to Marshalltown where he began work as a night janitor for the Marshalltown Schools starting at the Miller Building and retiring after 14 years at the Woodbury Building. Mr. Howard was a member of the Center Street Baptist Church. His faith was important to him and he treasured his family and friends, going traveling and fishing and having people call to visit. Left to cherish his memory are Vera, his loving wife of 67 years, two sons: Bob L. (Carol) Howard of Walker, MN, R. Dennis (Judith) Howard of Pine Mountain, CA., five grandchildren: Dan (Angela) Howard of Iowa City, Stephanie (Jim) Rispa of Grafton, ND, Katie (Nate) Witte of Moorhead, MN, Annie (Jared) Rupprecht of West Fargo, ND, and Briana Howard attending school in Santa Cruz, CA., his only great-grandchild Isabelle and sister Garrah Pippin of Marshalltown as well as many nieces and nephews. In death, Bob has joined his parents and brother, Dean.