Obituary of Robert Stepp

Robert A. “Bob” Stepp, age 76 formerly of 618-3rd. Avenue, Coralville died Friday, December 10, 2004 at Solon Nursing Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 15, 2004, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with Roger Fisher officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville. Visitation will be from 4 to 7pm Tuesday at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established in Bob’s memory. Online condolences may be sent for his family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. Robert A. Stepp was born November 28th, 1928, in West Branch, Iowa the son of Josiah and Pearl (Reid) Stepp. He graduated in 1946 from West Branch High School. Bob served as a Corporal in the Korea War from February 16th, 1951 to November 15, 1952 with the Co. K 7th Infantry Regt. Bob was honored with The Purple Heart, he also was awarded the Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Camps Stars, the United States Service Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge while serving in the U. S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Bob married Phyllis Jean Dohrer of Iowa City on December 15, 1952 in Kahoka, Missouri. In 1956, the couple moved to Coralville from West Liberty, where they resided and raised their family of seven children for 47 years. Bob was employed at Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric Company for 34 years, now Mid-American Energy and retired in 1990. For 27 years, he and his wife also owned and operated Trade Specialties, a small business selling and installing gas grills. Bob was a Boy Scout Leader for many years with his older sons. He enjoyed the outdoors; fishing, and hunting and yearly would take his family camping to Northern Minnesota. He was well known for his strong work ethic and his ability to fix or build most anything. He was a dedicated husband, father, friend, and neighbor who was willing to take that extra step to help others. One of his pride and joys was showing off his picture of his 1947 Indian motorcycle; which many people admired. He enjoyed relaying stories of the days he rode his motorcycle around the country side in his youth. Bob was a fan of Iowa football, basketball and enjoyed watching them play each season. He also was a Chicago Cubs fans and was known to watch them on a regular basis. His family includes four sons and three daughters; James and Catherine Stepp of West Des Moines, David Stepp and Julie Tangen of North Liberty, Diane and Don Carter, Carole Stepp and Bill Orner of Mountain View, CA, Richard Stepp of Coralville, Linda and Fouad Salim Safsaf of North Liberty; and Robert Stepp of Coralville; 12 grandchildren, Robert, Trisha, and Ryan Stepp, Jeremy, Joshua and Bethany Carter, Emma, Josef and Phillip Orner, Sabrina, Karima, and Sara Safsaf; two sisters, Dorothy Anderson of Oakland, IL, and Shirley and Jack Crouch of Lampe, MO; one sister-in-law Marlene Humble of Iowa City, and two brother-in-laws Robert and Jackie Dohrer of Encinitas, CA, and George and Cam Dohrer of Iowa City. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis in August 14th of 1999, and a sister, Harriett in infancy. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring of Bob’s family and his services.