Bob McCrary, 80, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, November 24, 2022, at his home. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at the United Methodist Church of Le Mars. Rev. Dr. Eric Sayonkon will officiate. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the church.
Robert Walter McCrary was born on August 15, 1942, in Grinnell, Iowa to Walter Barger and Violet Jane (Wicks) McCrary. He attended high school in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, graduating in 1960. He furthered his education at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa where he received a degree in business and finance.
On August 31, 1963, Bob and Kathleen Murphy were united in marriage at Peterson, Iowa. They made their first home in Sioux Rapids for a few years prior to moving to Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Bob took a position with New Idea as an accountant. They later moved to Des Moines, Iowa. Bob received his CPA license and briefly practiced there. The next move was to Jefferson, Iowa where Bob worked at AMF and was elected mayor.
Bob and Kathy moved to Sheldon, Iowa and owned and operated R & K Distributing. In 1986, they moved to Le Mars, Iowa. Bob then worked in Sioux City at L&L Distributing for 18 years. In retirement, he drove a SRTS bus and prepared income taxes.
Bob held many offices in the United Methodist Church over the years. He also served on the Plymouth County Republican Central Committee. He was a member of the Elks Club while living in Jefferson.
In his free time Bob followed genealogy, travelling and road trips in his 1969 Pontiac Firebird. He enjoyed tinkering and could fix just about anything including Sudoku puzzles. He had three phrases that he lived by, “Life is for the living”, “This too shall pass” and “Every day’s a good day”. Above all, he most cherished the time he spent with family and friends.
He will be greatly missed by his wife of 59 years, Kathy McCrary of Le Mars, IA, his children and their spouses, Greg and Cathy McCrary of Pensacola, FL, Mike and Kristi McCrary of Janesville, IA and Amy and Randy Swalve of Waterloo, IA; grandchildren, Andrew, Elizabeth, Patrick, Katie, Dan, Megan, Jon, Anna, Amanda, Matt, Jennie, Ryan, David and Nathan; great-grandchildren, Ava, Felix, Norah, Gwen, Jessica, Natalie, Jacob, Eloise, Mia, Joshua, Josiah and three on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister and her husband, Margaret and Richard McCombs; a step-sister; and two step-brothers, a sister-in-law Colleen and her husband Baxter Ankerstjerne.