GETTMAN, G. Robert 1924 - 2014

GETTMAN, SHANER, JOHNSON, CROUSE, DUFFIELD, MOSER, ISKE, TORRES, BEEMAN, ORNBERG, BUEHNER, MCMANNES

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 12/7/2017 at 11:59:42

G. Robert Gettman, 89, of Mason City, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, at the Good Shepherd Health Center.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, at the First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia Ave., with the Rev. Sean McRoberts officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the Mason City Veterans Association.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the G. Robert Gettman Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.

Bob was born Feb. 26, 1924, to George Peter Gettman and Sara Pearl Shaner Gettman, the second of nine children. Bob graduated from Mason City High School in 1942. At the age of 18, he was drafted into the Army. He was selected for higher education and received two years of credit in 12 months at the University of Utah, studying engineering.

He became a Technical Sergeant in the Third Army of General George Patton in the 13th Armored, Black Cat Division, serving in the Battle of the Bulge. Bob was a tank bow gunner and assistant driver. His division later liberated prisoner of war camps and concentration camps.

He married Dorothy Johnson on August 3, 1945. In 1947, Bob started working for Pritchard Ford in Mason City as a salesman, winning the coveted Top Hatter Award several years, putting him in the top 3 percent of all Ford salesmen. His Ford career spanned 38 years, and he retired from Don Lafrenz Ford in 1984.

He and his first wife had four daughters. They were later divorced. In 1992, He married Elaine Crouse.

Bob is survived by his daughters, Rita Duffield and husband John of Summerfield, Fla., Wendy Moser and husband Rob of Clear Lake and Naples, Fla., Connie Iske and husband Don of Loves Park, Ill., and Penny Torres and husband Rob of Cliffside Park, N.J.; stepdaughter, Gloria Beeman and husband Gene of Fertile; nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers, Ron Gettman and Bruce Gettman, and sisters Dorothy Ornberg, Marvel Buehner, Faye Lee and Lynda McMannes.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Darlene Frances; his brother, Ray Gettman; his wife, Elaine Gettman; and his first wife, Dorothy Gettman.

Arrangements are being handled by Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City, IA 50401, 641-423-0924, www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com