Obituary of Robert Keith Smothers

Robert K. Smothers, 83 of 614 Keokuk Court, Iowa City died Saturday, April 21, 2007, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a long illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 5 to 7pm Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial donations can be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society in Bob’s memory. Online condolences may be sent for Bob’s family through the web @www.gayandciha.com. Robert Keith Smothers was born March 20, 1924, on the farm of his grandparents in rural Keokuk, County, Iowa the son of William Thomas and Henrietta “Etta” (Buehneman) Smothers. He was the grandson of Ferdinand and Caroline (Schwenke) Buehneman and Ora Lot and Nora (Pence) Smothers. As a teen he participated in the State Rural School Choir, and had earned the honor of singing in the Iowa State Choir. Bob played two instruments, playing in a band with his uncles. He was active in F.F.A. and 4-H having raised a blue ribbon baby beef at the Keokuk County Fair in high school. He graduated from Sigourney High School in May of 1941. As a child Robert was confirmed in the Evangelical St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. As an adult he was baptized and had joined Zion Lutheran Church in Iowa City. On January 27, 2007, he re-affirmed his faith. Bob married Berniece Mae Patera on April 15, 1944, at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City. Berniece died of cancer in 1977; he later married Mabel Christensen on February 19, 1983. Before his many years of employment at Sanitary Dairies in Iowa City he worked as a carpenter, building homes. Throughout his lifetime he continued his passion of carpentry, remodeling homes, designing and restoring furniture and antiques. His family includes his wife, Mabel; his children, Terry (Ann) Smothers, and Connie (Robert) Pierce all of Iowa City, Dennis (Tamara) Smothers of Omaha, NE, Gary (Diane) Smothers of Palmyra, PA, Kevin (Betsy) Smothers of McDonough, GA, and David (Lori) Smothers of Kearney, MO; 16 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, step-children, Ronald Christensen Sr. (Linda) and Bruce Christensen all of Iowa City; Becky Christensen of Cedar Rapids; 3 step-grandchildren, and 5 step-great-grandchildren. Other members of his family include brothers, Jerald “Gary” (Sue) Smothers of Lone Tree, Berle (Margaret) Smothers of Sumner; sister, Kathleen Dougherty of Des Moines; sisters-in-law, June Smothers of Martelle, and Sue Smothers of Sarasota, FL; and many nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Berniece, and 4 brothers, Wilferd, Lowell, William, and Marion. Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Bob’s family and his services.