Robert “Bob” L. Bell, 86
Robert “Bob” L. Bell, 86, of Marshalltown, passed away on January 27, 2018, at State Center Specialty Care with his loving family by his side. A visitation will be held on Friday, February 2, 2018, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. also at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest in the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens with Military Honors. Memorials may be made to the family. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Bob and his family.
Robert L. Bell was born on September 27, 1931, to Lu Verne and Ina (Thorson) Bell in Grinnell, IA. They moved to Marshalltown when he was in junior high school. In 1950, Bob graduated from Marshalltown High School as a standout basketball and track athlete for the Marshalltown Bobcats. In 1952, he was a graduate of Marshalltown Junior College. He received his BA degree in 1954 from Iowa Wesleyan and went on to Northern Colorado to receive his MA degree in Industrial Arts in 1960. Bob taught two years at Albion High School before coming to Marshalltown schools in 1958. He taught Industrial Arts at Anson Junior High for over 35 years. Bob worked many summer jobs doing carpenter work with Marv Kuehner.
While at Wesleyan, he met the love of his life, Agnes Schuelka. He joined the Army in August of 1954. On January 5, 1955, he and Agnes were married at Fort Riley, Kansas. Bob was stationed in Hawaii during the Korean Conflict. A few months later, Agnes joined him there.
Bob taught Drivers Ed for several years and coached 9th grade basketball, 9th grade boy’s track, and 8th grade football while at Anson Junior High. Anson was a very big part of Bob’s life. He was a teacher who was fair and very caring about his students and athletes. He coached many successful players back in the 60s and 70s who went on to be part of successful teams at MHS. Bob was also a track starter, as well as refereeing football and basketball for many years.
Bob was a proud 50-year member of the Iowa State Boy’s Athletic Association and lifetime member of the National Education Association.
Bob participated in Senior Olympics and helped get 16-inch slow-pitch started in Marshalltown, in which he was the oldest player. Another highlight in Bob’s life was playing on the 1952 Marshalltown Junior College State Basketball Championship team, where he made the winning basket.
Bob enjoyed music, banjo, polka, old country, gospel and loved old western movies. His hobbies included woodcarving and John Deere tractors. He also enjoyed Bobcat sports, Iowa Hawkeyes and the Chicago Cubs.
Bob was a wonderful devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was always there to listen and give encouragement to be successful in their lives and enjoyed being involved with his grandchildren’s activities or sports. He enjoyed life and had a great sense of humor. He was a true gentleman and will be missed by many.
Left to cherish Bob’s memory is his wife of 63 years, Agnes; sons, Tim (Deanna) Bell, of Marshalltown, and Patrick (Janice) Bell, of Midlothian, Virginia; daughter, Peggy Bunn, of Marshalltown; grandchildren: Ryan (Angie) Bell, Michael Bell, Carrie (Matt) Larson, Elise Bell, Jared Bell and Jennica Bunn; great-grandchildren: Liam, Kennedy and Nile Bell; brother Leroy Bell, Des Moines, IA and sister, Joan Behr, DeKalb, Illinois; and other family members.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter Kayla Bell.