Robert (Bob) Tollakson Obituary

Ankeny - Robert (Bob) Joel Tollakson, 93, of Ankeny, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at Sunny View Care Center.

Robert was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa on October 7, 1930 to Ellen (Male) Tollakson and Thomas Tollakson. He grew up on a farm outside of Buckeye, Iowa and graduated from Radcliffe High School in 1948. He attended the Gale Institute in Minneapolis and upon graduation joined the Rock Island Railroad as an agent operator clerk. He joined the Air Force in 1951 and later married Iola (Hunt) Tollakson in 1952. After completing his service in the Air Force, he returned to the Rock Island Railroad where he worked at several communities including Palmer and Hampton, Iowa for over 30 years. He retired from the railroad and worked in real estate and insurance before moving to Ankeny in 1987 and joining Allied Insurance. He retired from Allied in 1992.

Bob loved all things family including attending the Ostrem, Male and Mitchell family reunions. He is 100% Norwegian and loved Norway and returned several times to visit his cousins, aunts and uncles in the Haugesund area. He enjoyed participating in the Sons of Norway. He celebrated his Norwegian heritage with Kumla every year for his birthday and lefse and lutefisk every year for Christmas.

He spent a lot of time with his grandchildren and was given the name Grandpa Silly Bob for all the crazy things he did with them.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 65 years, Iola (Hunt) Tollakson, and his two sisters Betty (James) Hunt and Margaret (Raymond) Anderson.

Robert is survived by his four children, Rick (Rachel Flint) Tollakson, Candace (Ed Kelly) Tollakson, Elizabeth (Jeff) Jensen and Ginger (Mike) Dinsmore and his 13 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens, 909 Robert D Ray Drive, Des Moines on Saturday August 17, 2024 from 11am - 2pm. Lunch will be served and there will be a Celebration Program at 1pm. Private interment will take place at the Stavanger Lutheran Cemetery in Garden City, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be made in Robert’s name to Sons of Norway, Marsteinen Lodge 1, 3945 56th St, Des Moines, 50310 or Albaugh-McGovern American Legion Post 42, PO Box 425, 521 SW 3rd St., Ankeny, 50023. Online condolences are welcome at www.IlesCares.com.

Arrangements by Iles Westover Chapel

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