ROBERT JOE "BOB" RISSER

RISSER, SWAIM, LEONARD, PITZ

Posted By: Sharon Becker (email)
Date: 7/13/2009 at 08:23:16

OBITUARY - ROBERT JOE "BOB" RISSER

Robert Joe RISSER, son of Leland Dean RISSER and Mary Garland (SWAIM) RISSER
was born June 24, 1951 in Mt. Ayr, IA and passed from this life July 5, 2009
at Carle Hospital in Urbana, IL at 58 years of age.

Bob graduated from Diagonal High School in 1969 and attended vocational school
in Sheldon where he became a certified Lineman. He became a proud father of a
son, Courtney Joe, in April 1974. He was united in marriage to Kay Ellen
LEONARD on August 22, 1981 at Lamoni, IA and once again became a proud father
of a daughter, Lori Ann, in September 1982.

Robert began his career after vocational school as a Lineman for Clarke
Electric beginning in 1970. From 1995 to present, he worked for the Iowa
Association of Electric Cooperatives where he was a safety training director
for the REC, serving statewide. He served as Vice-Chairman for the Quad State
Instructors Board; Bob also served as director for the Iowa Electrical Utility
Safety and Training Association. He was a member of the National Utility
Training and Education Association and was a Certified Loss Control
Professional. He was a member of Osceola Lodge #77 A.F. &A.M; a former Little
League coach and volunteer fireman in Osceola. After moving to Murray 15 years
ago, he served on the Murray Development Board where he started the Murray
Poker Run. Bob's love of cars was shown in his devotion to NASCAR, especially
cheering on Matt KENSETH and driving his classic car, a 1975 Bricklin. He
drove sprint cars at Knoxville for a brief time and drove in the Hot Rod Power
Cruise in June and the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee averaging
116mph in his Bricklin. He also enjoyed golfing, scuba diving, horseback
riding, working on his fish pond, and mowing the yard.

Those relatives who preceded Bob in death were his parents; and brother,
Ronnie Robert RISSER in infancy, and mother-in-law Lola LEONARD.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife, Kay RISSER of Murray; son, Courtney
RISSER of Cameron, NC; daughter, Lori (Kevin) PITZ of New Vienna; cousins,
Mary Lou SWAIM and Connie SWAIM of Missouri; nephews, Kevin (Ashley) LEONARD,
Pleasantville and Kyle LEONARD, of Lamoni; father-in-law, Paul LEONARD of
Lamoni; brother-in-law, Gary (Cheryl) LEONARD of Lamoni; other relatives and a
host of friends.

Memorials may be made to either Osceola Lodge #77 A.F. & A.M. or the Murray
Development Corporation.

Masonic Services at 7:30 PM at the Kale Funeral Home, Osceola. Services held
10:30 A.M., Saturday, July 11, 2009 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola. Friends
are invited to join the family following the services for a memorial road
cruise from the Kale Funeral Home to the Murray Christian Church where family
will have lunch and fellowship with friends.

He will be cremated following the funeral services.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2009