Robert D. "Bob" Tushla

Robert D. 'Bob' Tushla

Cherokee, Iowa

Robert D. "Bob" Tushla, 89, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, at Accura Health Care in Cherokee after a long struggle with dementia.

Celebration of Life will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee. A luncheon will follow the service. Burial will be at a later date. Additional information is available at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.

"Bobby Dean," as he was known to his relatives, was born on Aug. 10, 1933, to Sylvester and Mary Rose (Kazda) Tushla in Atkinson, Neb. The family farmed north of town. Mary Rose passed away when Bob was 12.

He attended country school and Atkinson St. Joseph's High School. Bob was a standout athlete for the Bluejays, helping the basketball team make it to two state tournaments and placing in five individual events at the state track meet as a senior.

Bob continued his education and athletic career at Wayne State Teachers College. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 and returned to Wayne where he was a starter on Wildcat basketball teams that twice played in the NAIA National Tournament. Bob also once shared the college long jump record. He graduated with honors and went on to earn three Master's degrees.

Bob married Gayle Joan White on June 1, 1957, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Atkinson. The couple made their home in Bancroft, Neb., where he was a teacher, coach and principal. During this time his two sons, Tim and Tom, were born.

In 1972 the family moved to Correctionville, Iowa, where Bob served as high school principal and a teacher at Eastwood High School.

Upon his retirement, Bob and Gayle moved to Estes Park, Colo., and operated a gift shop. In 2003, the couple came back to Iowa to be closer to their grandson, Max. Gayle served as caretaker for Bob as his dementia progressed. She passed away in 2019.

He was a woodworker, artist, photographer and an avid Nebraska Cornhuskers fan.

He is survived by sons Tim and Barb Tushla of Sioux City, and grandson, Max, of Chicago, Ill.; and Tom Tushla and Shelley Urban of Cherokee.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife; parents; and infant brother, James.

The Tushla family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Accura Health Care for their wonderful care and compassion.