Robert (Bob) Case Steele, long time music educator and musician, passed away at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa on July 16th after succumbing to complications from Parkinson's Disease. He was surrounded by his loving family at the time of his passing. Bob was born in Washington, Iowa on August 16th, 1929 to Milo and Doris (McCreedy) Steele.
While growing up in Washington, Bob was involved in the Red Steele Band and the Washington Municipal Band, playing Trombone and Baritone. In his junior year of high school he met the love of his life, Wilma Tait. They married on August 18th, 1950 and moved to Cedar Falls where Bob received his degree in Music Education from the Iowa Teachers College.
Bob taught briefly in Keota and Osceola, Iowa before moving to West Des Moines Schools to teach at Valley High School, from 1962 to 1972. He briefly retired from teaching in 1972 and took on various endeavors before realizing teaching youth was his passion. He returned to teaching at Van Meter, where he retired in 1992.
During his teaching career, he also performed duties as a vocal music judge, earning that right with his own excellent high marks for his small & larger choral groups, and individual soloists he trained, for the Iowa State yearly competitions. He demanded respect and got it from his students. The reward for all was the terrific sound that came from that direction.
He was also the Music Director at West Des Moines United Methodist Church where he made a difference for the members and choral groups he directed there from 1962 to 1996.
Bob was a professional musician playing in various Dixieland Jazz bands and Municipal Bands, and singing for many local sporting events, weddings and funerals. The highlight of his Dixieland Jazz days was playing at the Bix Beiderbecke festival in Davenport, Iowa.
After retirement he continued to perform and teach privately. He also enjoyed travelling, spending time with his grandchildren and watching his favorite teams, the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs.
Following the death of his wife Wilma in 2006, Bob entered Fountain West care facility in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he lived until his passing.
In addition to Wilma, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Milo Sr. and Doris (McCreedy) Steele; brother, Milo Jr. and sister, Audrey Chmelar.
He is survived by his sisters, Ione Burham and Joyce Chorpening (Charles); children, Angie Olsem (John Greenman); Lori McCurdy (Chris); Kelly Steele (Stephanie Shreeves); Tracey Kenkel (Allen); 8 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren
Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.
A memorial service was held Monday, July 21,2014 at West Des Moines United Methodist Church where many a student and choral group members from that church, Valley High and Van Meter High Schools came to pay tribute to a good teacher, good father, and good servant of the Lord.
Internment was performed with grave side family services at the Ainsworth Cemetery, laid to rest near family and wife, Wilma, in Ainsworth, Iowa.
Please consider making a donation to the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Iowa Chapter. Online donations can be made at:
http://www.apdaiowa.org/donate/
While growing up in Washington, Bob was involved in the Red Steele Band and the Washington Municipal Band, playing Trombone and Baritone. In his junior year of high school he met the love of his life, Wilma Tait. They married on August 18th, 1950 and moved to Cedar Falls where Bob received his degree in Music Education from the Iowa Teachers College.
Bob taught briefly in Keota and Osceola, Iowa before moving to West Des Moines Schools to teach at Valley High School, from 1962 to 1972. He briefly retired from teaching in 1972 and took on various endeavors before realizing teaching youth was his passion. He returned to teaching at Van Meter, where he retired in 1992.
During his teaching career, he also performed duties as a vocal music judge, earning that right with his own excellent high marks for his small & larger choral groups, and individual soloists he trained, for the Iowa State yearly competitions. He demanded respect and got it from his students. The reward for all was the terrific sound that came from that direction.
He was also the Music Director at West Des Moines United Methodist Church where he made a difference for the members and choral groups he directed there from 1962 to 1996.
Bob was a professional musician playing in various Dixieland Jazz bands and Municipal Bands, and singing for many local sporting events, weddings and funerals. The highlight of his Dixieland Jazz days was playing at the Bix Beiderbecke festival in Davenport, Iowa.
After retirement he continued to perform and teach privately. He also enjoyed travelling, spending time with his grandchildren and watching his favorite teams, the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs.
Following the death of his wife Wilma in 2006, Bob entered Fountain West care facility in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he lived until his passing.
In addition to Wilma, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Milo Sr. and Doris (McCreedy) Steele; brother, Milo Jr. and sister, Audrey Chmelar.
He is survived by his sisters, Ione Burham and Joyce Chorpening (Charles); children, Angie Olsem (John Greenman); Lori McCurdy (Chris); Kelly Steele (Stephanie Shreeves); Tracey Kenkel (Allen); 8 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren
Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.
A memorial service was held Monday, July 21,2014 at West Des Moines United Methodist Church where many a student and choral group members from that church, Valley High and Van Meter High Schools came to pay tribute to a good teacher, good father, and good servant of the Lord.
Internment was performed with grave side family services at the Ainsworth Cemetery, laid to rest near family and wife, Wilma, in Ainsworth, Iowa.
Please consider making a donation to the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Iowa Chapter. Online donations can be made at:
http://www.apdaiowa.org/donate/
Robert (Bob) Case Steele, long time music educator and musician, passed away at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa on July 16th after succumbing to complications from Parkinson's Disease. He was surrounded by his loving family at the time of his passing. Bob was born in Washington, Iowa on August 16th, 1929 to Milo and Doris (McCreedy) Steele.
While growing up in Washington, Bob was involved in the Red Steele Band and the Washington Municipal Band, playing Trombone and Baritone. In his junior year of high school he met the love of his life, Wilma Tait. They married on August 18th, 1950 and moved to Cedar Falls where Bob received his degree in Music Education from the Iowa Teachers College.
Bob taught briefly in Keota and Osceola, Iowa before moving to West Des Moines Schools to teach at Valley High School, from 1962 to 1972. He briefly retired from teaching in 1972 and took on various endeavors before realizing teaching youth was his passion. He returned to teaching at Van Meter, where he retired in 1992.
During his teaching career, he also performed duties as a vocal music judge, earning that right with his own excellent high marks for his small & larger choral groups, and individual soloists he trained, for the Iowa State yearly competitions. He demanded respect and got it from his students. The reward for all was the terrific sound that came from that direction.
He was also the Music Director at West Des Moines United Methodist Church where he made a difference for the members and choral groups he directed there from 1962 to 1996.
Bob was a professional musician playing in various Dixieland Jazz bands and Municipal Bands, and singing for many local sporting events, weddings and funerals. The highlight of his Dixieland Jazz days was playing at the Bix Beiderbecke festival in Davenport, Iowa.
After retirement he continued to perform and teach privately. He also enjoyed travelling, spending time with his grandchildren and watching his favorite teams, the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs.
Following the death of his wife Wilma in 2006, Bob entered Fountain West care facility in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he lived until his passing.
In addition to Wilma, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Milo Sr. and Doris (McCreedy) Steele; brother, Milo Jr. and sister, Audrey Chmelar.
He is survived by his sisters, Ione Burham and Joyce Chorpening (Charles); children, Angie Olsem (John Greenman); Lori McCurdy (Chris); Kelly Steele (Stephanie Shreeves); Tracey Kenkel (Allen); 8 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren
Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.
A memorial service was held Monday, July 21,2014 at West Des Moines United Methodist Church where many a student and choral group members from that church, Valley High and Van Meter High Schools came to pay tribute to a good teacher, good father, and good servant of the Lord.
Internment was performed with grave side family services at the Ainsworth Cemetery, laid to rest near family and wife, Wilma, in Ainsworth, Iowa.
Please consider making a donation to the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Iowa Chapter. Online donations can be made at:
http://www.apdaiowa.org/donate/
While growing up in Washington, Bob was involved in the Red Steele Band and the Washington Municipal Band, playing Trombone and Baritone. In his junior year of high school he met the love of his life, Wilma Tait. They married on August 18th, 1950 and moved to Cedar Falls where Bob received his degree in Music Education from the Iowa Teachers College.
Bob taught briefly in Keota and Osceola, Iowa before moving to West Des Moines Schools to teach at Valley High School, from 1962 to 1972. He briefly retired from teaching in 1972 and took on various endeavors before realizing teaching youth was his passion. He returned to teaching at Van Meter, where he retired in 1992.
During his teaching career, he also performed duties as a vocal music judge, earning that right with his own excellent high marks for his small & larger choral groups, and individual soloists he trained, for the Iowa State yearly competitions. He demanded respect and got it from his students. The reward for all was the terrific sound that came from that direction.
He was also the Music Director at West Des Moines United Methodist Church where he made a difference for the members and choral groups he directed there from 1962 to 1996.
Bob was a professional musician playing in various Dixieland Jazz bands and Municipal Bands, and singing for many local sporting events, weddings and funerals. The highlight of his Dixieland Jazz days was playing at the Bix Beiderbecke festival in Davenport, Iowa.
After retirement he continued to perform and teach privately. He also enjoyed travelling, spending time with his grandchildren and watching his favorite teams, the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs.
Following the death of his wife Wilma in 2006, Bob entered Fountain West care facility in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he lived until his passing.
In addition to Wilma, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Milo Sr. and Doris (McCreedy) Steele; brother, Milo Jr. and sister, Audrey Chmelar.
He is survived by his sisters, Ione Burham and Joyce Chorpening (Charles); children, Angie Olsem (John Greenman); Lori McCurdy (Chris); Kelly Steele (Stephanie Shreeves); Tracey Kenkel (Allen); 8 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren
Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.
A memorial service was held Monday, July 21,2014 at West Des Moines United Methodist Church where many a student and choral group members from that church, Valley High and Van Meter High Schools came to pay tribute to a good teacher, good father, and good servant of the Lord.
Internment was performed with grave side family services at the Ainsworth Cemetery, laid to rest near family and wife, Wilma, in Ainsworth, Iowa.
Please consider making a donation to the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Iowa Chapter. Online donations can be made at:
http://www.apdaiowa.org/donate/
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This cemetery is also known as Oregon Township Cemetery.
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