Robert "Bob" Petty

Robert “Bob” Petty, 91, of Pilot Mound, Iowa, passed away March 30, 2020 at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa.

William Robert Petty was born on February 3, 1929 near Earlam, Iowa to William and Sydna (Edgington) Petty. He graduated from Perry High School in 1947.

During and after high school Bob worked at multiple jobs in the central Iowa area, including working at a commercial fertilizer plant. In the fall of 1950 with approximately $1,200, he bought a 1937 John Deere A 2 row hand lift cultivator and a 2 bottom plow and started farming in the Boxholm area.

Bob married Marjorie Briggs on November 18, 1951 at the age of 22 and they were married for 64 years. He and Marjorie bought their first 40-acre tract of farm ground in 1955 for which Bob paid $385 an acre. Bob said that he was “shaking in his boots” to be spending such a large amount. He and Marjorie worked tirelessly together during that first lean winter when they relied on a borrowed 410 shotgun to kill wild rabbits for food and gathered eggs from their chickens.

Farming was Bob’s life. He was still helping Daryl bale hay last summer. He was good- natured, an avid reader, real-life and armchair traveler, intellectual conversationalist, storyteller and jokester. He loved talking about scientific discoveries, real-life adventures and factual information. Bob was very frugal. It was rare if Bob bought anything that was a “want” rather than a “need.” His advice to others was: “Live and let live, don’t worry about the past, take things as they come, and don’t get mad at people.”

In July 1963 to satisfy his wanderlust, Bob depleted his savings account and bought a Hiland Potato Chip truck for $540. He turned it into a camper for the family. They spent a few weeks traveling each summer throughout the United States and Canada for approximately 18 years.

Survivors include his children Renee (Gary) Carhill, Jefferson, IA; Sheri Michaels (George Francis), Cuthbert, GA; Daryl (Rosalie) Petty, Pilot Mound, IA; Diane (Mike) Petts, Owatonna, MN; and son-in-law Merlin (Coleen) Bueltel, Fremont, IA. Grandchildren include Sarah (Lynn) Chaney, David (Jeanette) Carhill, Rebecca (Clinton) Comer, Chad McVey, Cory (Jennifer) McVey, Stacy Bueltel, Dustin Bueltel, Adam (Jessica) Petty, John (Erica) Petty, Erin (Greg) Wisecup, Katie Petts, Andrew (Aubrie) Petts, Christopher Petts, and Rachael Petts. He is also survived by 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie; daughter, Kathy Bueltel; sisters, Mildred (Petty) Dvorak, Mabel (Petty) Wright, Helen (Petty) Jordan, Ruth (Petty) Lapp, and Alberta (Petty) Hansen; and his parents, William and Sydna Petty.

Bob’s wishes were to be cremated. Family and friends will be notified about a future Celebration of Life event. Memorials will be at the discretion of the family.