Elmer "Bob" Robert Hawbaker

Elmer Robert "Bob" Hawbaker, of Germantown Hills, IL, formerly of West Point, IA, passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at his residence.

Bob was born on December 17, 1936, in Fort Madison, IA, to Elmer E. and Ann M. (Schroeder) Hawbaker. He married Janet M. Michels on February 11, 1961, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Tilden, WI.

Surviving are his wife, Janet of Germantown Hills; daughters, Judy (Bill) Hartman of Naperville, IL and Heidi Hawbaker of Germantown Hills; son, Robert E. (Karyn) Hawbaker of East Peoria, IL; sisters, Harriet Baggarly of Upland, CA and Barbara Pickard of Fort Madison, IA; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Billy B. Hawbaker of Albuquerque, NM, and younger brother James J. Hawbaker of Chicago, IL.

Bob served three years in the U.S. Army stationed at Fairbanks, Alaska. He worked for the Santa Fe Railroad and retired from there after 34 great years of continuous service. Per their dream, he and Janet moved from Naperville on his retirement to a little ranch near the mountains by Trinidad, Colorado where they spent twenty wonderful years prior to moving back to Illinois.

Bob really enjoyed the get togethers with his siblings, grandkids, and great-grandkids, all of whom he loved very much but didn't display that love quite often enough. He did really enjoy bugging all of them. Bob fought numerous battles with various cancers and fought them right up to the very end.

Cremation rites have been accorded. Per Bob's wishes, there will be no funeral services. Burial of Ashes will be in Calvary Cemetery in West Point, Iowa at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, P.O. Box 68, 119 Fourth Street, West Point, IA 52656 (Bob was the author of this, his own obituary.)

St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church
P.O. Box 68, 119 Fourth Street, West Point IA 52656