Obituary of Robert McFarland

Dr. Robert A. "Bob" McFarland, 90 of Iowa City, formerly of Marshalltown, and Estes Park, CO died Monday, October 19, 2015 at Briarwood Care Center in Iowa City. Memorial services will be held at 11am Thursday, October 22, 2015, at the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City, with internment in the church's columbarium. Visitation will be at 10am Thursday until service time at the church. Memorial donations can be made in his memory to Rotary International or Quakerdale Children in New Providence, Iowa. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the website of the funeral home @ www.gayandciha.com. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Bob's family and his services. Robert was born on January 6, 1925, in Marshalltown, Iowa the son of Alfred H. and Lucille (Paterson) McFarland. Following graduation from Marshalltown High School in 1943, he immediately enlisted in the United States Army serving in the 99th. Infantry Division. He was in combat in the European Theater and the Battle of the Bulge, when he was awarded the Bronze Star.. After his discharge he enrolled in Grinnell College and graduated in 1949. Bob met his future bride, Shirley Miller at Grinnell and they were married on February 7, 1948, in Webster Grove, MO. Robert received his M.A. degree in 1950 and his PhD in 1968 from the University of Iowa. In 1950 he started his career in education as a teacher and high school principal in Monona, IA, then Waverly, Iowa. He moved back to Marshalltown in 1960 as School Business Manager, and the spent the last 19 years there as superintendent of Schools, retiring and moving to Estes Park, CO in 1987. Active in many professional organizations, he served as president of the City Superintendents of Iowa, the Iowa Association of School Business Officials, and the Iowa Association of School Board Secretaries. He served as a board director of the Iowa State Education Association and the National Association on Legal Problems of Education. Bob was a member of the American and Iowa Association of School Board Administrators. In Estes Park he was an Elder in the Community Church of the Rockies and Past-President of the Estes Park Rotary Club and Art Center. His interest included golf, skiing, biking, reading and active involvement in the Long Peak Scottish-Irish Festival. In 2000, Bob was knighted in the Imperial Constantin ion Military Order of St. George. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; their three children, Sandra McFarland of Iowa City; Patricia McFarland of Des Moines, and Robert McFarland (Barbara) of Iowa City; 11 grandchildren, Tabitha, Karissa, Christiana, Shoshanna, Ariana, Seth, Ayla, Raina, Elijah, Cameron, and Lindsay; 8 great-grandchildren, Micaela, Lucas, Cassie, Leah, Bella, Brodi, Ethan and Oliver; nieces, Alison Williams, Nancianne Adams, Pam Miller, Joyce Tarpoff, and Debra Crader. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Katy Feulner.