Robert L. Morlan

BLOOMFIELD:  Robert L. Morlan passed on to be with the Lord on November 14, 2008 at the Davis County Hospital in Bloomfield, Iowa.  He was born in Hudson, Iowa on May 8, 1921.  He is survived by his wife Violet; a son, Jack (Paula) Morlan of Des Moines, Iowa; 4 daughters, Jill (Gerald) Jencks of Marion, Iowa, JoEllen (Lenny) Espeseth of Atikin, Minnesota, Julie (Kurt) Swaim of Bloomfield, Iowa, Jane Morlan of Bloomfield, Iowa; as well as six grandsons, two granddaughters, five great-grandsons and four great-granddaughters.  He is also survived by three sisters, Jean Spring and Caroline Moore of Centerville, Iowa and Reva Burgess of Marion, Iowa; one brother, Roger Morlan of Roundup, Montana, and many wonderful in-laws, nephews, nieces, and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents George and Ella Mae Morlan; three sisters, Aletha (Pink) Swimm, Lucille Duty, Erma Kilpatrick; and three brothers, Lorance, Cecil and Max. 

He was in the U.S. Navy during WWII as an Aviation Machinist Mate and instructor of airplane instruments from Feb. 1942 until October 1945 when he was honorably discharged.  They farmed for 23 years in Appanoose and Davis Counties.  In 1951 Robert was selected Master Corn Grower of Appanoose County.  They also owned and operated Morlan’s Jewelry in Bloomfield for 10 years during which Robert was president on the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce for a few years as well as many community activities.  He was an avid baseball fan and pitched softball until he was 56 years of age.  He also loved to fish and in 1979 moved to Atikin, Minnesota, where they owned and operated a resort.  Robert also opened a jewelry repair shop in Aitkin which he operated for 10 years and then they moved back to Iowa in 1988.  He was a faithful member of the Centerville Assembly of God Church where he became an honorary member in 2002.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Davis County Hospital Long Term Care Garden, Hospice of Wapello/Davis County or Missions Funds of the Centerville Assembly of God Church or Fairview Church of the Brethren of Unionville, Iowa.

Open visitation will be at the Wagler Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 from 1-8pm, with the family present from 5-8pm.

There will be a private family/relative funeral service Wednesday at the Fairview Church of the Brethren (Robert’s home church where his Grandfather was the founder/pastor).