Robert "Bob" Stanley

Bob Stanley, a resident of Scottish Rite Park, died at home Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013. He was 91. Visitation will be held Monday evening from 6-8 p.m., at Hamilton's Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday morning, November 19, at Wakonda Christian Church, where he was a longtime member, with a luncheon following the service and burial afterward at Chapel Hill Gardens on Merle Hay Road.

A resident of Des Moines' south side for many years, Bob moved to Scottish Rite Park in 2005. His professional career was spent in the hospitality and travel industries, working 21 years for the Hotel Fort Des Moines and several area travel agencies. Bob derived great joy from his many years as a Za-Ga-zig Shrine Diplomat, driving his convertible in countless parades, and from his backyard swimming pool, scene of innumerable parties through the years. He was also a member of the Royal Order of Jesters and was a tireless volunteer for anyone who asked for his help.

Bob was born Feb. 7, 1922, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to Earl and Nell (Werner) Stanley, the first of three brothers. The family moved to Des Moines when the boys were still small. He graduated in June of 1942 from North High School, where he was one of the top hurdlers in the state on the track team.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in November 1942 as an Aviation Radioman, and received an honorable discharge in February of 1946. He served on aircraft based out of Jacksonville, Fla., hunting for (and finding) German submarines in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Later in the war, he served on transport planes supplying bases in the Pacific Theater and returning wounded service members to hospitals in Hawaii and the West Coast of the U.S.

Bob married Ida Elaine Smith on June 26, 1955, in Des Moines, and they had one daughter, Julie.

Survivors include his daughter, Julie Hawkins (Joe); sisters-in-law, Joan (Felice) Stanley of Des Moines and Mary (Smith) Ibeling of Mount Vernon, Iowa; grandchildren Emily Sohn of Iowa City and Andy Sohn of Cedar Rapids; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, two brothers, Darwin and Jack, and nephew, Jeff.

Memorials may be directed to the Shriners Children's Hospital or the American Heart Association.

Condolences and memories of Bob may be left at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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