Robert G. "Bob" Hill
February 23, 2017
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Service Details
Robert Gail Hill, 94, passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family on Friday, February 24, 2017.
Bob was born March 30, 1922 in Bondurant, Iowa to Iva (Allen) and Harry Hill. He retired after many years of dedicated service from Reliable Rug Company and Iowa Furniture and Carpet Cleaning. Bob served his country proudly and bravely in The U.S. Navy during WW II. He was a charter member of Christ the King and a member of Ft. Des Moines Little League Hall of Fame, a member of SACO and also of Cummings American Legion.
Bob is survived by his sons, Rick (Lisa), Randy (Ruth), Ron (Lori) and Robert (Lisa) Hill; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren; sisters, Phyllis Desenberg and Honora Tovrea; and other loving family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his loving wife, Lola in December 2016.
The family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 5711 SW 9th Street. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at the Church. He will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Christ the King Catholic Church or Unity Pointe Hospice in loving memory of Bob.
Norwalk Seaman Plays Romantic Dangerous Role
As seen in the Washington D.C. Newspaper in 1946
It can now be revealed that Robert G. Hill, radioman, second class, Norwalk, Iowa, played a role in one of the most romantic and dangerous episodes of the war against Japan- as a member of a naval group of guerrillas, intelligence agents and weather observers behind the Japanese lines in Asia.
The group-now known as SACO-Sino-American Co-operative Organization- began shortly after Pearl Harbor as strictly a weather reporting unit.
Project Grows
The project grew until it was providing the U.S. fleet, the army’s 14th air force and the Chinese and American army headquarters with weather reports and with intelligence on movement of Japanese ships, troops and supplies. Finally, it became a dangerous fighting outfit, killing Japanese, blowing up trains, raiding Japanese outposts. Its activities finally extended all the way from Indo-China to the Gobi desert.
SACO intelligence allowed the 14th air force to mine coastal waters, forcing Japanese shipping out to sea, where they were attacked by American submarines, on information from SACO.
Weather information helped the navy decide when to stage invasions on Japanese Islands and raids on the Japanese homeland.
Slip Though Japanese Lines
Usually it was possible to enter or depart from Japanese territory by air, but SACO Americans became adept at Chinese disguises and guided by SACO Chinese, slipped through enemy lines when they chose. Through months and years not one SACO member was detected.
Online condolences may be directed to
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
john johnson
04/22/2017
I was saddened to learn of Mr Hill's passing today. I am glad to hear that he had a long life and am not surprised to learn of his heroism and
know that he was a humble man. I cherish the memories I have as I was lucky enough to play on his baseball team and have him as my coach for four years. I have never forgotten him or the lessons he taught me about life and baseball. Thank you Mr Hill for donating your time to Ft Des Moines Little league. I will never forget you.
Leslie Schulte, unity point msw
03/01/2017
So blessed to have gotten to meet Bob. His smile and stories of the military always brightened my day. Your family did an excellent job caring for him! Thinking of you all during this most difficult time.
Cindy and Steve Manker
02/27/2017
Your Dad was a wonderful, loving and cheerful man who we will always remember. He would come and clean our carpets and our kids and Day Care kids loved hearing his stories! Love to you Rick and all of your family.
The Manker Family
Mel Pins
02/27/2017
Bob Hill changed my life. I worked for Bob for 4 years summers/weekends, cleaning carpet as a teenager in the mid 1980s. Bob was 62, and I was 15. Bob taught me about hard work, responsibility, honesty, respect, and his famous phrase, "Do the job right, or don't do it all."
These are virtues that I try to use everyday, in everything that I do.
I also had alot of fun with Bob. He told me all about his WWII service, and how he and his brothers enlisted the Monday after Pearl Harbor, each picking a different branch of service, Bob deciding on the Navy. He said there was a "special duty" opportunity in the Navy, and Bob thought that would be for submarine service, so he signed up. How wrong he was! It was for service in Naval Intelligence as part of the "Coastwatchers", and he was sent to infiltrate the Japanese occupied coast of China! Bob taught me Chinese phrases, like good morning, good evening, and "nice American girlfriend"?! We had alot of laughs, and I learned so much from him about how proud he was of his family, his sons, his work, and his service to our Nation.
The difference we make in life isn't what we've accumulated, or sometimes even what we've accomplished ourselves; how we influence, encourage, and support others makes a real difference in life, and that's how our essence carries on, even when we are not here anymore. Bob has done just that, many times over! He did the job right!
Carol Holmes
02/26/2017
All of you are in my thoughts and prayers at this time. I would to share this poem with you -- Native American Prayer --
I give you this one thought to keep, I am with you still I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the Autumn rain.
When you awaken in the mornings hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone, I am with you still in each new dawn.
Carla (Hill) Trewett
02/26/2017
My prayers are surely with you all, my family, at this time. It was always great to see him when I came back home to visit. Uncle Bob's story was such a great adventure! He is definitely in my memories forever.
Teresa (Terry) Lancaster Turner
02/25/2017
My deepest condolences to all of my cousins on the loss of uncle Bob. I remember so many visits to Des Moines and staying with him and aunt Lola. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Douglas & Barbara Lancaster
02/25/2017
Barbara & I are so very sorry for
your loss. What we remember from your Father & your Mother, was their strong devotion raising 4 young boys into very good - strong young men. They were the example of being fine parents that we will always remember forever. Our prayers & heart felt condolences go out to Randy, Ron, Bob & Rick & all family members in this time of sorrow.
Doug & Barbara Lancaster