Robert A. Cogdill, 96

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Robert Adelbert Cogdill, 96, died on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, surrounded by his family at his home in Dunlap. He was born on June 24, 1928, in Coleridge, Neb., to parents Sam and Doris (Allen) Cogdill. Bob was the sixth of seven children born, he had five older sisters and one younger. He grew up on the family farm and walked to country school. Most of the farming was done with horse drawn machinery and the corn was picked by hand. Bob hired out to neighbors to pick corn. Tractors were just starting to being used.

Bob enjoyed hunting and roller skating. He met his future wife, Mildred Foecke, while roller skating. She was a schoolteacher at a small country school. They were married on July 10, 1948, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Bob farmed with his dad, and then rented a farm to farm on his own. After four tough years with crop damage and livestock death, he rented a farm near Panama. In March of 1952, the family, now including three children, moved to the farm northwest of Panama. Bob kept busy farming, with miking cows, raising hogs, feeding cattle, planting and harvesting the crops. In 1972, the family moved to the Dunlap farm. In 1995, Bob and Mildred built a new house near the church in Dunlap. Bob continued farming either physically or mentally all of his life. At the age of 94, he still ran the combine.

Bob enjoyed traveling with Mildred, water skiing, snow skiing, fishing, watching the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow. Bob loved showing his grandkids and great-grandkids how he could use his cut off thumb to make a muscle or scare them that they might suck theirs off. He stopped many thumb suckers. When most of the children had graduated or were in college, Bob started traveling to Minnesota and building their lake homes. He even water skied when he was 91 years young.

Bob was preceded by his parents; wife, Mildred Cogdill; two children, Edwin Cogdill and Doris Montang; twin grandsons, Ryan and Bryan Cogdill; six sisters, Rose Hefner, Maxine Haisch, Marge Johnson, Mildred Hansen, Ella Rastede and Marilyn Cogdill. He is survived by his six children, Sam (Sue) Cogdill, Pat (Joyce) Cogdill, Tim (Susan) Cogdill all of Dunlap, Tony (Linda) Cogdill of Panama, Frank (JoEtt) Cogdill of Dunlap, Martha (Richard) Rose of Dunlap; daughter-in-law, Barbara Cogdill of Ankeny; son-in-law, Patrick Montang of Council Bluffs; twenty-two grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; over 50 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandsons; many nieces and nephews; three brothers-in-law; one sister-in-law; and many other relatives and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Dunlap. Rev. Samual Danso and Rev. Joel McNeil presided over the service. The musicians were Sabrina Cogdill, Christina Allen, Joyce Cogdill and the Cogdill Grandchildren Choir. The honorary pallbearers were Brandon Cogdill, Brad Cogdill, Paul Cogdill, Jason Cogdill and Tony Darveaux. The pallbearers were Pat Montang, Richard Rose, Scott Cogdill, Rob Cogdill, Shawn Cogdill, Jimmy Cogdill, Mark Cogdill and Eric Cogdill. Bob’s final resting place is at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine was in charge of arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com