
Robert (Bob) Joseph Barr
November 7, 1941 ~ January 17, 2025
Robert (Bob) J. Barr, 83, Chatsworth, IA, better known as “Gramps” and “Old Man”, decided to take his final nap on Friday, January 17, 2025, at his home.
Robert (Bob) Joseph Barr was born on November 7, 1941, in Iowa, to Robert and Evelyn (Burnight) Barr.
Bob served in the United States Army during peacetime in Korea, where he likely honed his legendary ability to crack jokes in any situation. Bob was a proud member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles #1865 in Hawarden, Iowa. He was a body mechanic and a wizard with a paint gun, making cars shine so bright that some folks actually paid to have his name displayed on the side!
After hanging up his mechanic tools, he teamed up with his buddy, and fellow late family member, Butch Keiser, at PAK Construction. Together, they pushed dirt around until they realized they just as well practice pushing their walkers!
In his younger days, Bob rocked out in a band and hit dingers on the softball field, always spreading laughter as the ultimate jokester. He was the grandkids’ favorite chauffeur, taking them around Hawarden for ice cream and life lessons, often reminding them, “If you can’t be good, be good at it!” He was also famous for his tall tales, like the time he claimed to have played ping pong with George Foreman in his buddy’s garage or jammed with Carlos Santana – stories that may or may not have been true, but definitely added to his legendary status.
Bob loved taking his kids out for catch, bike rides on the trails, and even dumpster diving on the last day of school to collect teachers’ old books, so they could play pretend school and truly feel like educators.
In his final months, you could always count on Bob’s favorite shows, “Heartland” or “Yellowstone,” to be on the TV. Those who cared for him will never be able to watch them again, having already binged them from start to finish a thousand times!
Bob is survived by his sons, Scott (Sharon) Barr, Tim (Gina) Lawrence, and Robert (Bekki) Baker; daughters, Annette (Tony) Martens, Ashley (Tyler) Barr, and Lindsey (Joshua) Goracke; sister, Linda (Mike) Coons; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and former wife and close friend, Judy Van Bruggen.
Bob is preceded in death by his daughter, Theresa Barr; parents, Robert Barr and Evelyn Renken; grandson, Jack Lawrence; brothers, Charles Renken, Richard Renken, and Raymond Barr; and his favorite niece, Melissa Peskey.
Ashley and Lindsey would like to give a special thank you to his granddaughter and best friend, McKenzie, and niece, Kara, for helping them keep the old man home where he always wanted to be. They would also like to thank St. Croix Hospice for the special care they provided. Robert’s spirit will forever live on in the stories, laughter, and slightly inappropriate jokes shared by his family.
And now, in Bob’s words, “Alright, go home now. I wanna take a nap! Shake it easy!”
RIP.
Bob was a great man he will be missed R.I.P Bob