Robert E. "Bob" Winchell, 56, of Grinnell, died on Friday, Apr. 8, 2016, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.
A funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Apr.13, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Pastor Walt Claussen and Pastor John Claussen officiating. Military honors were presented by the Iowa Army National Guard. Honorary bearers were Kellee Coomer, Kristen Coomer, Austin Coomer, Don VanDeKrol, Craig VanDeKrol, and Renae VanDeKrol. A reception was held at the First Friends Church in Grinnell following the service.
Memorials may be directed to Robert E. Winchell Memorial Fund and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Bob was born on Feb. 11. 1960, in Newton to Richard "Dick" and Patricia "Patty" Ulrey Winchell. He was raised in Killduff and graduated with the Class of 1978 from Lynnville-Sully High School. Following his education, he served with the U.S. Army.
On May 13, 1984, he was married to Caryn Townsend in Marshalltown, and to this union was born three children, Dustin, Derek and Alyssa. The couple lived in Grinnell, where he worked as a truck driver and later as an electrician for his father and uncle.
Bob enjoyed tinkering with cars and was considered a handyman, assisting family and friends. He also enjoyed camping, motorcycles, and operating remote cars and helicopters.
Survivors include his mother, Patty Winchell of Grinnell; his children, Dustin (Tereasa Holderness) of Oskaloosa, Derek (Kiley Cousins) Winchell of Cedar Rapids, and Alyssa Carrison of Montezuma; his fiancée, Deb VanDeKrol of Grinnell; his sister, Deb Coomer of Grinnell; and his 12 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father.
