ROBERT EDWARD SHAY
Robert Edward Shay, son of Robert Thomas and Norma Lucille Jones Shay, was born on July 4, 1946, at the Creston hospital in Creston, Iowa. Bob was welcomed into his family by his sister, Janice, and then later joined by his younger sister, Carol. Bob spent his childhood on the family farm southwest of Benton, Iowa. He attended Mount Ayr High School and graduated with the class of 1964.
On September 2, 1967, Bob was united in marriage to Kathryn Ann Kuhl at St. Malachy’s Catholic Church in Creston, Iowa. Bob was drafted into the US Army on January 24, 1968, and went to basic training in Fort Bliss, Texas. He left for Vietnam on his birthday, July 4, 1968, and was assigned to the 109th Quartermaster Company Air Support Division based at Cam Rahn Bay. Here he was qualified serving on supply drop missions. In Vietnam, Bob earned the National Defense Service Medal, two overseas bars, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Marksman M-14 Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Purple Heart. Bob returned stateside on his birthday, July 4, 1969, and was honorably discharged on October 31, 1969.
Bob farmed in partnership with his father and like the generations before him, he was a cattleman. He was a proud father of his four sons and was an avid supporter of their involvement in athletics and other activities. Bob was an outdoorsman and nature enthusiast, enjoying hunting, fishing and trapping and could play cards with the worthiest opponent. In recent years, he enjoyed traveling the tractor pull circuit, visiting all of the different venues and visiting with friends. Bob was a member of the Ringgold County Fair Board and volunteered annually at the Iowa Boys High School State Wrestling Tournament for more than 40 years.
Bob passed away on October 30, 2018, at the VA Central Iowa Health Care System in Des Moines, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Norma Shay.
Those left to cherish his memory include sons, Roby (Natalie) of Johnston, IA, Cody (Karen) of Shannon City, IA, Tory (Brandi) of Tingley, IA and Cassidy (Angie) of Urbandale, IA, grandchildren, Kelsy, Luke and Brady Shay, Addison, Adler and Adden Shay and Caden, Kinsie and Kinley Shay, sisters, Janice (David) Lindemoen of Des Moines, IA, and Carol (Jim) Sheldon of Des Moines, IA; nieces, other relatives and friends.
Services was at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 5, 2018 at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa.
Officiating was Pastor Bill Armstrong.
Songs was “In The Garden”, “How Great Thou Art” and “On Eagles Wings”.
Casketbearers was Kelly Main, Jim Brand, Mike England, Bob French, Brian Mobley and Jerry Brown.
Honorary pallbearers was David Lynch, Kent Trullinger, Dick Elliot, Jeff Quick, Duane Burchett and Mark Larsen.
Military rites was by Ringgold Post #172, American Legion and Iowa Army Honor Guard.
Burial was at St. Mary Cemetery in Maloy, Iowa.
Memorial is to the Mount Ayr Track Program.
