Bob Sickels

Robert Lee (Bob) Sickels was born at home south of Mount Ayr, Iowa, on October 21, 1936, to Roy Elvis and Edna Elsie (Mosier) Sickels. He was welcomed home by older brother, Carroll, and the family was completed by brother Bill and the twins, Jack and Janice.
When Bob was 5 years old the family moved to Denver, CO, where his father worked as a mechanic at Lowry Air Force Base/Stapleton Airfield. He started school in Westwood, CO, and had joyful childhood memories of roller skating, riding his bike, and collecting aluminum for the war effort. Bob was always handy at building and repair, and at the age of 12 overhauled his first car engine, a Model A Ford.
In 1952 the family moved back to Mount Ayr where Bob entered high school as a sophomore and worked at home on the farm. He graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1955 and enlisted in the Army in 1956, serving two years of active duty at Fort Huachuca, AZ, followed by four years of reserve duty.
Bob and Kathryne Ann (Kay) Daughton were married in December 1956 and lived in Arizona for two years. After completing his active duty, they moved back to Mount Ayr where Bob worked as a mechanic at the Ford garage, then at McCullough Motor Company and Johnson Chevrolet. Their children Michael, Richard, and Lori came along to add joy to the family. In 1980 he started
his business, Sickels Automotive, where he and son Mike worked together until Bob retired in 2000.
Bob greatly appreciated his community and thoughtfully gave back to it all his life. He was a volunteer firefighter for 30 years and served as Fire Chief for 3 years at the Mount Ayr Fire Department. Bob took pride in helping his community, serving on the Judge Lewis Park Board, the Board of the Depot Museum where he worked to preserve the historic train depot, and the
Board of Rose Hill Cemetery where he led the plans for construction of the new building. He also worked to preserve and restore the one-room Jackson Hill Country School House at the Ringgold County Fairgrounds.
Bob enjoyed spending time with family and friends, with special memories of elk hunting in Colorado at the annual family camp on Sleepy Cat Mountain. When the kids were young, Bob and Kay's family would gather with Bill and Nancy Daughton's family for BBQ and picnics at the old lake or on the farm. Bob learned to water ski and enjoyed visits to Sun Valley Lake with Bob and Sheryl Smith and family. Other joyful times were spent playing card games with friends, and making homemade ice cream with the Doyle and Renabell Adams family.
When traveling in Ireland, Bob made a special memory after parking at a rural corner looking for Daughton's Cross. Bob came across a local man and asked him about it, at which point the Irish fellow exclaimed, 'I'm married to a Daughton!' Bob replied, 'So am I!' They celebrated finding each other and had tea together. In recent years Bob enjoyed meeting up for afternoon "safety
meetings", as well as sharing coffee time with cousins Mack, Larry, Gene, and friends.
Bob's family appreciated his generosity, kindness, and caring actions throughout the years. After Bob and Kay returned to Mount Ayr from Arizona, they opened their home to younger siblings Jack, Janice, and Bill. When Bob's parents returned to Mount Ayr in the 1970s, Bob took responsibility for moving his grandparents' home into town and preparing it for his parents.
As Rich's career grew, Bob and Kay enjoyed traveling to different venues and hearing his bands make music. Bob and Kay also loved traveling to visit Lori in Cambridge, England while she completed further training as a cancer research scientist. As the family continued to grow with the next generation, Bob enjoyed playing with toddler grandson Adam, especially when Mike
and Vicki stayed with Bob and Kay while their house was under construction. Special times continued with Bob's enjoyment of driving to auctions and sales with young grandson Adam. They always found multiple treasures which were sent home with Adam to help fill his parents house. Upon retirement, Bob and Kay moved to San Francisco for a year where they cared for
baby granddaughter Anna and enjoyed sharing her smiles with people in the neighborhood. Bob and Anna ate lots of mini-donuts together at Pier 39, whenever Anna was willing to share! Over many Christmas gatherings in Iowa, Anna and LJ would put on holiday shows for Bob, Kay and family.
Bob passed away peacefully on April 9, 2025 after a short stay in Clearview Home. He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Edna Sickels; brother Carroll (Shirlee) Sickels and sister Janice Ritter; mother- and father-in-law Vera and Jim Daughton; sister- and brother-in-law Patty and Bill Boswell.
He is survived by Kay, his wife of 68 years; brothers Bill (Deb) Sickels of Mount Ayr and Jack (Reta) Sickels of Creston, brother- and sister-in-law Bill and Nancy Daughton of Kellerton; children Mike (Vicki) Sickels of Ankeny, Rich Sickels of Apache Junction,
AZ, and Lori (Randy) Friedman of San Carlos, CA; grandchildren Adam Sickels, Taylor Welch, Anna Friedman and Lee James "LJ" Friedman; and a host of other relatives including cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Memorials are in his name to be decided.