Robert Porter Beard

Robert “Bob” Porter Beard, aged 90, joined his beloved wife, Gladys, and his faithful dog, Licorice, in heaven, early in the morning of December 1, 2019.

Bob was born in Akron, Ohio, February 11, 1929 to William Robert and Myrtle Pansy Beard. He attended the Greensburg schools for most of his schooling. His favorite classes were the woodworking classes where he fell in love with wood/wood-crafting, which led to him becoming a master craftsman, building innumerable houses and quality, solid wood pieces of furniture throughout his life.  Bob fell in love with Gladys Irene Hartong when he was a high school Freshman, at 15 years old, and she with him.  They dated exclusively throughout high school, and got married on July 18, 1948, one month after their high school graduation in June of 1948.They were married for 58 years until her death in 2006.  Uncle Sam requested his presence in the defense of his country in 1950, so he joined the United States Marine Corp where he earned the rank of Corporal, serving as a mechanic and marksman until 1959. Bob worked for The Hoover Company, Canton, Ohio, as a machine operator and machine maintenance supervisor in the Foundry Department for 40 years. 

A member of Greensburg Church of God, Bob served by fixing whatever needed fixed, be it the heating system, the electric, or the plumbing; along with redesigning and updating the church sanctuary, then supervising it’s construction. Even as late as October of 2019, he was still serving the First Church of God in Iowa Falls, Iowa, by mowing their property lawns.  He loved to be outdoors working, building, and serving others by making their lives better in whatever way he was able.

Bob was an avid Euchre player and could skunk anyone.  He rarely lost a game, and was still beating the pants off of his children and grandchildren at his 90th birthday party.

His final years were spent living at the Hubbard Care Center in Hubbard, Iowa, where he loved doing silly things, from wearing crazy hats, to standing up in the cafeteria and singing songs, to painting his fingernails bright red, just to get the other residents to smile. He thought that everyone felt better when they could laugh or even just smile.  Known as Robert at the care center, his DVD collection was second to none, and he loved nothing more than to lend his DVDs to others so they could enjoy them, too.

Bob is survived by his devoted daughters Linda (Steven) Wasnak of Perry, Ohio;  Kathy (Stephen) Acheson of Waterloo, Iowa; his loving grandchildren Jason (Rebecca) Sypolt of Florida; Nathan (Kaylee) and Jonathan (Sarah) Sypolt of Ohio; Andrew, Rachael and Stephanie Acheson of Iowa; his precious great grandchildren, Marissa, Tyler, Dylan, Aiden, Emma and Hattie Sypolt; his two younger brothers, James (Eileen) Beard of North Carolina, and Norman (Louetta) Beard of Anderson, Indiana.   

Bob is preceded in death by his wife Gladys Irene, his parents William Robert and Myrtle Pansy Beard, his older brother George, his baby sister Wanda (Kieke), and his faithful Licorice Milkface. 

Honoring Bob’s request of no calling hours or funeral, a private graveside service will be held at his interment at Sunset Hills Memorial Gardens in Canton, Ohio. Memorials in his name can be sent to Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, Waterloo, Iowa to help further his love of building homes and service to others. 

Arrangements by Linn’s Funeral Home, Iowa Falls, Iowa, and Schemesser Funeral Home, Akron, Ohio.

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