Robert William Morris, Sr.

Robert William Morris Sr., 83, of Manchester, Iowa, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Friday, September 20, 2019, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester. He was born January 27, 1936, in Manchester, the son of William and Harriet (Given) Morris. Bob was raised and educated in the area, graduating from Manchester High School in 1954.

On November 16, 1957, Bob was united in marriage to Mary Derga at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Worthington. Eight children were blessed to this union. Bob was no stranger to hard work and achieving goals. Starting out in Cedar Rapids, Bob worked for Iowa Manufacturing and then Quaker Oats. During this time, he was also mowing lawns and painting houses, plus running his small farm in Hiawatha, all with the hopes to have a larger farm someday. In 1969, his hard work paid off, and the family moved three miles north of Masonville, where they grew their farm, raised their family, and created treasured memories.  

Robert enjoyed farming, but he LOVED fishing. He was a self-proclaimed “Best Fisherman in Delaware County,” all you had to do was ask him. In fact, sometimes there was more bait than food in the freezer. Truth be told, he was a very good fisherman. His love for fishing was shared with his sons and grandchildren, but what he shared most was his stories of not just fishing, but living. Bob’s infectious smile, love of singing the old songs to his children, and later his grandchildren, telling stories to anyone who would listen, and having fish for dinner nearly every Friday night will be missed by all.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Mary; his eight children, Kathy (Larry) Brunsman of Manchester, Bob (Susan) Morris Jr. of Manchester, Connie (Chris ) Algeo of Tacoma, Washington, Karen (Scott) Bohr of Cedar Rapids, Mike (Beth) Morris of Marion, Judy (Matt Anderson) Morris of Tacoma, Washington, Leroy (Brenda Kuehl) Morris of Cedar Rapids, and Janet (Rob) Dudley of Winthrop; 16 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren, with number 13 due in December; three brothers, Richard (Lois) Morris, Larry (Nancy) Morris, and William Morris, all of Cedar Rapids; his sister, Mary Jane (Richard ) Overman of Cedar Rapids; and brother- and sisters-in-law, Alvera Weber of Manchester, Bernice Lansing of Dyersville, Grace Neuzil of Dyersville, John (Kathy) Derga of Worthington; Jane Hahn of Dyersville; and Carol Derga of Racine, Wisconsin.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Albert and Marcella Derga; and brothers-in law, Ralph Weber, Art Lansing, Dick Neuzil, Herb Hahn, and Albert Leo Derga.

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