Robert Gates Monroe

CEDAR RAPIDS - Robert Gates Monroe, 90, of Cedar Rapids and formerly of Charles City, died Friday, May 8, 2009.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 13, at 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids, and at 3 p.m. at First Congregational Church, Charles City.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at Cedar Memorial in Cedar Rapids.

Private family burial services will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City at a later date.

Bob was born on Jan. 23, 1919, in Charles City, the son of Charles (Jack) and Margaret Monroe. He lived in and graduated from high school in Charles City. Bob graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor's degree in business in 1941, and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He completed pilot and flight training at various Army flight schools in Texas. On May 20, 1942, he received his wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.

On May 20, 1942, Bob also married Ruth Stewart in Lubbock, Texas. In 1945 Bob and Ruth moved to Charles City, and in 1946 they opened their own business, Monroe Sporting Goods, which they operated for 30 years. Bob was also a Charles City councilman, a Floyd County supervisor for 13 years and the mayor of Charles City from 1988-1994. In 1995, Bob and Ruth moved to Cedar Rapids where they resided at Crystal Estates.

Ruth died on May 14, 2004.

On Nov. 11, 2006, Bob married Karen Alexander in Cedar Rapids.

Bob was very active in community and church activities. He helped organize Little League Baseball, was a YMCA board member, an active member of the First Congregational Church (choir for over 30 years) and First Presbyterian Church, a volunteer at St. Luke's Hospital, a coach, referee and umpire, and was a member of the Elks, Rotary, and American Legion. Bob had his sports radio program, "Sitting In With Bob Monroe" on KCHA for 30 years. He was also named the Charles City Chamber of Commerce "Man of the Year." Bob was a strong advocate for Charles City. His most notable interests were securing historic preservation and registry status for various Charles City landmarks, especially the suspension bridge, the naming of Charles City as "America's Hometown," and his work on developing the "Avenue of the Saints" for Charles City and the state.

Tributes or memories for the family may be sent to www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries. Memorials may be directed to the Charles City Suspension Bridge Fund in care of the Charles City Chamber of Commerce or the Linn County Food Bank.

Survivors include his wife, Karen Alexander Monroe; two sons, James R. Monroe (Louise) of Des Moines and John C. (Cindy) Monroe of Cedar Rapids; a daughter, Linda (Roger) Hoel of Coralville; and three step-daughters, Lisa Alexander, Lauren (Randy) Savell, and Lynda (Pierre) Meunier.

Survivors also include nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren: Deborah and Jim Dreusicke (Lauren, Anna) and Sarah and Mike Heenan (Nathan, Noah) of Coralville; Kristin Monroe Pei (Marcus, Miles) of Iowa City; Capt. Andrew and Stephanie Monroe (Nicholas) of Richmond Hill, Ga.; Sgt. Scott and Marie Monroe of Fort Irwin, Calif.; four children and three grandchildren of Jim and Louise Monroe.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Ruth Monroe, his parents, and a brother Charles Monroe.