Obituaries : Robert Tschantz

Robert Irvin Tschantz, 76, of Springville, died Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, at his home. Funeral service will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at Springville Presbyterian Church, Springville. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, and one hour before the service Saturday at the church. Burial: Springville Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley; his children, Dan (Rhonda) Tschantz of Urbana, David (Robyn) Tschantz of Collins, Connie (Mike) Barnes of Vinton and Pam (Michael) Goad of Springville; grandchildren, Katie, Kristin and Aaron Henderson, Jordan and Joel Barnes, Joseph and Molly Tschantz, Hannah, Elizabeth, Andrew, Sarah, Abigail and Samuel Tschantz, and Christian, Ashley, Gabrielle, Gracie, Michaela and Dawson Goad; and sister, Kathryn Hermanstorfer of Colorado Springs, Colo.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Irvin "Bill" and Mary (Nelson) Tschantz; and grandparents, Martin and Bertha Nelson and Christian and Henrietta Tschantz.
Robert was born July 20, 1938, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Irvin "Bill" and Mary (Nelson) Tschantz. He joined the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1955 and joined the active U.S. Navy, 1958 to 1961. Robert married Shirley Kay Ressler on May 6, 1962, at St. James Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. He was a mail handler for the U.S. Postal Service for 33 years. He and Shirley lived in Ely for seven years, where he served as town marshal. The couple then moved to Whittier, where Robert loved life on the acreage, raising a variety of livestock to provide for his family.
He was a volunteer for the Red Cross and the Ely Volunteer Fire Department and was very passionate about his volunteer work at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, where he assisted the staff and patients by interpreting sign language. Robert was a member of Springville Presbyterian Church, where he was a deacon and enjoyed running their video equipment. He was also a member of Springville Masonic Lodge No. 139, where he was master for two years; the Eastern Star of Marion; Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter No. 568 of Cedar Rapids; and the same card club for over 50 years.
Robert was a wise man and he loved his children and grandchildren dearly. He enjoyed telling them stories and attending all their activities. Robert cared a great deal for his dog, Pepper, who followed him everywhere, and his goat, Sam. He liked to travel with Shirley and enjoyed years of fishing in his "early days."
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Robert's family.
Please share a memory of Robert at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.