Robert "Bob" Spain Jr. Obituary

Robert “Bob” Francis Spain Jr., 74, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on April 17, 2025. He did not want to go.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 23, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Iles Norwalk Chapel. A memorial service and celebration of life will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, at the Iles Norwalk Chapel, followed by burial at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in Madison County.

Bob was born on January 14, 1951, in Bevington, Iowa, to Robert and Dorothy (Reinholdt) Spain. During his childhood, Bob and his family always lived in the country, on farms south of Des Moines—which always seemed to have a special, quirky name, so when reminiscing, they could always refer to that name and period of childhood. He graduated from Valley High School in 1969 and attended Ellsworth College briefly. He went on to become an electrician and was a member of IBEW Local 347. He started his electrical career at ABC Electric before working with his brother, Dan, at Spain Electric for many years, providing “More Power to Ya.” Bob retired from Baker Electric in 2023, where he was a project manager for 18 years.

Bob was married to Mary (Harryman) for 38 years, meeting over a beer on 5th Street in Valley Junction, West Des Moines. They had a life filled with laughter, happiness, and many treasured memories. Bob had three children: Sara, Rob, and Mollie. He loved being their father. He reached out to them in some way every day.

Many things were a huge part of Bob’s life. He loved music and attending live shows. He golfed near and far every chance he got. He loved Wednesday golf league at The Legacy. He had an impressive collection of antique fishing lures. He collected duck decoys—new, old, or hand-carved for him with love. He was an official Iowa Hawkeye fan; football was his favorite, and he saw many games at Kinnick after a good tailgate. He had many travels and enjoyed every place he visited. The best part about all his loves was that he shared them with family and friends. In all these things and more, there are forever memories.

We will miss receiving Bob’s jokes of the day—a daily dose of laughter and mischievous humor. He was a Far Side expert, finding humor in the everyday that only he could. They were unforgettable.

Those left behind to honor Bob’s legacy include his wife, Mary; children: Robert Spain III, and Sara (Nathan) Davis; grandchildren: Ruby Davis and Wyatt Davis; siblings: Daniel Spain (Linda) and Marsha Swinford; many in-laws; as well as many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Mollie, and his parents, Robert and Dorothy Spain.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family in Bob’s name; a charity will be determined later.

Arrangements by Iles Norwalk Chapel.

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