Robert "Bob" Francis Mcginn

Robert "Bob" Francis McGinn passed away 11 March 2024 peacefully at his home with his family by his side after a long-fought cancer battle.

Bob was born 21 May 1946 in Waverly, IA to Charles and Avis (Berry) McGinn.  He grew up on a farm(s) outside of Waverly with his sister and two brothers getting into mischief and living a simple life.

He attended a one room country grade school through the fifth grade, when it closed; he attended Irving Elementary School in Waverly for the sixth grade.  Grades seventh through ninth were at Waverly-Shell Rock Schools.  After taking a "break" from school and living with his Uncle Phil McGinn's family in Mason City, he attended Newman High School for tenth grade returning to Waverly-Shell Rock High School for grades eleventh and twelfth, graduating with class of 1966.  While in high school he worked at Roy's Dinner and Waverly Ready Mix, both in Waverly.

7 November 1967 he enlisted in the Army and did his basic training at Ft. Bliss, TX and further training at Ft. Hood, TX.   He served in Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division 1/10 Calvary.  He was discharged from active-duty 28 July 1969.  He received the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

In August 1969 Bob began his career in the car business as a car salesman for Burdette Buick, Waterloo, IA.  Then, in 1970 he started working for Larry Lange Ford moving on to John Deery Oldsmobile/Nissan in 1976 becoming New Car Sales Manager.  In 1981 he opened McGinn Auto Sales until closing it in 2005.  After closing his business until retiring in 2014 he was a self-employed auto broker, buying cars for area dealers.  Bob was a trusted and well-known automobile dealer throughout northeast Iowa.  In retirement, he golfed as much as possible, watched as many basketball games (especially ones his son coached) and football games as he could, and of course spent time with his grandchildren, earning the title of Papa in 2013. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and was a proud and dedicated member of alcoholics anonymous for 50 years.

On December 19, 1975 he was united in marriage to Karen Barrett in Charles City, IA, they raised their family in Cedar Falls.  Bob worked hard all his life and instilled the importance of honesty, integrity, and respect in his children.  "To whom much is given, much will be required" Luke 12:48.

In 2010, Bob was diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer resulting from his exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam. He battled the disease, never complaining.  He also had several squamous skin cancer Mohs surgeries from Agent Orange and finally squamous cell lung cancer, a cancerous brain tumor, Merkel Skin Cancer which ultimately spread to his liver, and now he has paid the ultimate price from serving this great country he loved.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 48 years Karen, children BJ (Jillian Minkel) McGinn, granddaughter, Sadie, and grandson Carter, Ames, IA and Whitney (Andy) Schmitz and grandsons, Frankie and Charlie Waukee, IA.  One sister, Margaret (Ed) Wendel, Watkins, IA and one brother, Gregory (Sherry) McGinn, Dubuque, IA also survive him, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Avis McGinn, Waverly, IA, brother Gerald McGinn, Tempe, AZ, sister-in-law Margaret McGinn, Tempe, AZ, brother-in-law Larry Hirsch, Waverly, IA, and In-laws, Howard and Ellen Barrett.

Services will be 10 am on Tuesday, 19 March 2024 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Cedar Falls, IA.  Burial will be at a later date at the Veterans Cemetery in Adel, IA with Military Rites.

Visitation will be from 4-7 pm on 18 March 2024 at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home Cedar Falls, IA.

Family wishes to thank all friends and family for their support over the past weeks and months with their calls, visits, food, prayers, and kindness.  Special thanks to Cedar Valley Hospice for their care during the final weeks of Bob's life.

Memorials may be directed towards the family at this time. Dad wished to sponsor the 18th hole at the Bremer County Veterans golf outing; and a bench will be placed at the 13th hole at the Waverly Municipal golf course in dad's memory.