Robert Arlen Bryant, of Hesper, Iowa, died Saturday, April 6, 2019, at the Patty Elwood Center in Cresco, Iowa, at the age of 87.
Robert was born October 14, 1931, in Boulder, Colo., the only child of William and Edith (McBride) Bryant. During World War II they lived in Vallejo, Calif., where Robert’s father worked at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. In 1945 they moved to Hesper and Robert graduated from the Mabel High School in 1950. In 1951 he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served as an Interior Communications Electrician on seven different submarines. He retired in 1974, having achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. After retiring from the Navy, he returned to Hesper where he worked for several years at Hawkeye Stages in Decorah. He enjoyed building computers, fixing things, and planning projects.
Robert is survived by several cousins, including Reginald and Kathleen Baird of Hesper, Bayonne White of La Habra Heights, Calif., Kent (Annie) Baird of Pinion Hills, Calif., David James of San Diego, Calif., Wayne (Elsie) Olson of Houston Minn., Theresa Wells of Castle Rock, Colo., Bernadine (Marvin) Cooper and Myrna Mardock of Decorah, Susan (Vern) Foss and Sonja Hoag of Rochester, Minn., Joyce (Ernie) Lorette of Vancouver BC, Sharon (Robert) Mattson of Baraboo, Wis., Elizabeth (Bill) Wiley of West Richmond, Wash., and Sandy Albrecht of Deming, Wash. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Edith Bryant, and several cousins and cousins-in-law.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday, April 12, 2019, at the Hesper Lutheran Church in Hesper, Iowa, with Rev. Matt Larson officiating. Burial will be in the Hesper Public Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.