Robert E. Dillard Obituary

Rob Dillard, the former Iowa Public Radio reporter, producer, and host, who helped develop the award winning series Being in Iowa, died November 11 at Kavanagh House in Des Moines of pancreatic cancer. He was 73 years old.

Rob was born April 25, 1951, and grew up in Indianola, Iowa, the oldest of three sons of Howard Dillard and Marjorie Hogueison Dillard.

Rob combined a fascination with movement in athletics with the grace of dance. This led him to the Celebration Mime Theater in Maine, where he spent the 1970s touring. He returned to Iowa to complete his degree at the University of Iowa. Rob rekindled his love for writing and journalism and also his desire to be on stage. He appeared frequently at the Des Moines Playhouse and the Drama Workshop, while continuing his work as a writer and editor.

He was also drawn to academia, first Des Moines University, where he worked in communications, and then Central College in Pella, where he taught a class on newswriting and wrote for the alumni magazine.

In 1993, at a dinner party thrown by a friend, he met Karen Wendt. They lived a committed life together for 31 years. During those years, Rob built many treasured friendships.

At the same party, Rob sat with a man who would be influential in helping him land a job with WOI Radio in Ames, later part of Iowa Public Radio, from which he retired in 2020, after 19 years.

He is survived by his partner, Karen Wendt, brother Michael (Karla) of North Liberty, Iowa, and brother Alan (Todd Hockridge) of Lincoln, Nebraska, and an aunt, Mary Essick, of Indianola.

If you wish to commemorate Rob, please give to Iowa Public Radio.

A memorial service will be at Willow on Grand on December12 at 11:00.
Friends are invited to gather beginning at 10:00 to visit and share memories.

Rob's service will be live streamed on the Iles website. Go to www.ilescares.com just before 11:00 Thursday and scroll to the bottom of his obituary for the link to join the service.

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