Robert H. Kiser

Robert H. (Bob) Kiser, 91, of Sioux City passed away on Friday, March 25, 2016, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home. 

A celebration of his life service will be at 1 pm Friday, April 1, 2016 at First United Methodist Church at 1915 Nebraska Street in Sioux City.  Rev. Roger Madden will officiate.  Burial with military honors will be at Logan Park Cemetery.  After interment, a 3:30 p.m. reception for Bob will be held at Western Iowa Tech Community College. Visitation will be the hour prior to the service at church. Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel is handling arrangements.

Condolences may be sent online at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Bob was born on July 8, 1924, in Peoria, Iowa to Ira Curtis Kiser and Eva Lena Manley Kiser.   He spent his early years in Oskaloosa, Iowa and graduated from high school in 1942.

He was a combat infantryman with the U.S. Army’s 37th Division, 148th Infantry Regiment during World War II.  Bob was awarded the Bronze Star.  He received the Asian Pacific Campaign Award with three battle stars and one bronze arrowhead, designating his first wave landing at Luzon in the Philippines.  His unit received two Presidential Unit Citations.

After his military service, he attended Drake University in Des Moines from 1946 to 1949, graduating with a B.S.  degree.  He continued his education by earning a M.S. degree at Drake University.  Bob completed his education by earning his Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley in 1965.

He married Holly Quick in 1947 who became his life partner until her sudden passing on August 30, 2015.  Bob and Holly had four children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren at the time of his passing. 

Bob was the founding President of Western Iowa Tech Community College.  Following the election of the first Board of Directors for Western Iowa Tech in November 1966, the Board selected Dr. Kiser to serve as the school’s first chief administrator. He worked there for 25 years until his retirement in 1991. Upon his retirement he was named President Emeritus. He was a passionate and life long supporter of vocational and technical education.  After retirement he was a volunteer for the Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE).  

His career as a professional educator began as a business education teacher at Ute Consolidated High School in Ute, Iowa.  From there he moved to school administration, serving as Superintendent of Prescott Community School in Prescott, Iowa from 1954 to 1960.  He and his family then moved to Woodbury County where he was the Superintendent of Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community Schools from 1960-1966.  He then served a brief tenure as Director of Personnel for the Sioux City Community Schools in 1966.    

Bob received numerous awards and recognition for his community service over many years.  He was very proud to receive the Rotary Club of Sioux City Key Way Award for 2001.

Bob was an avid golfer and was a member of the Sioux City Boat Club for many years.  And he was fortunate enough to record a hole-in-one on the links.  After his retirement he usually spent January through March in Florida, playing golf several days a week.  And he and Holly attended major league baseball spring training games for the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros.

Bob is survived by four children and spouses, Roderick (Shelley) of Winter Park, FL, Lou Anna Kiser-Townsend (Bruce) of Sioux City, Jo Ellen (Larry) Carlson of Tucson, AZ, and Randy (Therese) of Minneapolis; his grandchildren, Anthony of Sioux City, Michael (Dana) of Norfolk, VA, Katie Kiser-King (Derick) of Hyattsville, MD, Rory of Minneapolis, Jackson of Minneapolis, Victoria Carlson-VanTol (Colin) of Omaha, and Alan Carlson of Tucson; three great-grandchildren, Brianna Renner, Matthew King and Kelly Kiser; numerous nieces and nephews.  

His parents, and his brothers, Ira Manley Kiser and Carl Edward Kiser, Sr., and a grandson, Liam John Robert Kiser, preceded him in death.

Memorials may be directed in his name to WITCC Foundation for the Robert H. Kiser Endowed Scholarship Fund.