Robert L. Rathbone, 95, of Tripoli, died at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community on Sunday, February 5, 2017.

Family directed memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 11, 2017, at   Faith United Church of Christ in Tripoli with Rev. Marilyn Sargent and Bartels Lutheran Home Pastor, Rev. Sandra Burroughs officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.  Inurnment will be at a later date at Fremont Cemetery. Rettig Funeral Home in Tripoli is assisting the family. 

Robert Lewis, son of Roy and Edith Flood Rathbone, was born September 27, 1921, at Allison, Iowa, and at a young age moved with his family to Sumner. He graduated from Sumner High School in 1940. He drove a grocery truck after high school.  On November 23, 1947, he was united in marriage with Jeannine Krueger at the First Congregational Church in Tripoli. The couple farmed near Frederika from 1948 to 1955, and then purchased their longtime farm home, south of Tripoli, where they lived, farmed, and raised their family until retiring in 1989, and moving into Tripoli. He also drove school bus for Tripoli Community Schools for twenty-three years, including to athletic events. He was a member of Faith United Church of Christ in Tripoli where he served on the church council, and as a deacon and usher. He also served on a creamery board and enjoyed playing cards with friends and neighbors in a “500 club” for many years.

Bob is survived three children, Mary (Dean) Butterfield of Oelwein, Jane (Brendt) Bernard of Tripoli, and Rob Rathbone of Tripoli; nine grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; two step grandchildren; four step great grandchildren; and one sister, Patty Schedtler of Sumner.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeannine on September 24, 2005; his daughter, Kay Oltrogge on December 27, 2009; one brother, Albert; and five sisters, Lucille Jarchow, Betty Levey, Edith Nielsen, Mercedes Campbell, and Carol Bowers.