Robert “Bob” Richard Stessman
STESSMAN, DAVIS, ANTHOFER, DINGMAN, LAM
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 9/3/2024 at 09:26:32
Robert “Bob” Richard Stessman, 83, of Iowa City, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2024 at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics with his loving family at his side.
Bob was born on November 2,1940 in Carroll, Iowa, the son of Robert Henry and Blanche (Davis) Stessman. Growing up as an only child, Bob spent most of his childhood years in Des Moines, IA where he attended grade school at All Saints Parish. Some of his fondest memories were of summers camping and frog fishing with his dad and friends. He played ice hockey and was an accomplished drummer at Dowling High School, where he graduated in 1959. After high school he attended the University of Northern Iowa followed by the University of Iowa where he received his Bachelors in Science Education and went on to earn his Masters in Natural Sciences at the University of South Dakota and Counseling at the University of Iowa.
In 1962, while attending the U of I, Bob met his future wife, Mary Anthofer, who was attending nursing school in Des Moines at the time, on a blind date to a dance at the Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines. To this day he always remembered the black spaghetti strap dress she wore that night. On August 24, 1963, after graduating from the U of I, they were married in Mary’s hometown of Coon Rapids, IA. Bob and Mary then moved to Sioux City, IA to begin his career as a teacher and start a family. In the following years they were blessed with two sons, Patrick and Nicholas. In Sioux City, Bob taught Biology at Trinity Prep Seminary as well as Heelan High School, while continuing to work on his Masters. After four years of teaching in Sioux City, they moved to Iowa City where they settled down.
In 1967, Bob took a job in the Iowa City School District teaching Biology, starting at City High while West High was being built, then West High and eventually wound up at Northwest Junior High where he met his true calling… being one of the most caring, empathetic and compassionate, not to mention, favorite teachers to students of all backgrounds (occasionally he also taught Life Science). He had a gift rarely found in teachers – just ask any of his former students. Bob genuinely cared about all students, taking a special interest in at-risk youths and students with learning disabilities and was particularly empathetic of those youngsters that are often lost in the shuffle. As such, he eventually headed the newly formed At-Risk Program at Northwest in 1990 as a teacher/counselor. He had a unique ability to reach troubled students who couldn’t relate to any other teachers. He championed the underdog and was a true advocate for those kids who would otherwise slip through the cracks unnoticed, often assisting students in solving problems in the home and the community. He was able to instill a sense of values in students without moralizing and in a way that appealed to them. “Mr. Stessman” as he was known by his students, will always be remembered for his model of the human skull affectionately called “Fred the Head” that he used as his hall pass.
In 1992, Bob was nominated for Who’s Who Among American Educators. He developed and presented in-services for the Alternative Education Association, was a public speaker for the Sanctuary Movement from 1984-1989, and founded the Northwest Jr. High Global Issues Seminar “Honor Thy Children: The Eleventh Commandment.”
Bob enjoyed outdoor activities of all kinds – his favorite of which was camping, whether in a camper or in a tent, by foot or by boat. Even 10 below zero temperatures or an overambitious goal to backpack around the Coralville Reservoir didn’t stop him. His camping adventures took him to places like Yellow River State Forest, Isle Royale, Colorado Rockies and a little-known off-the-beaten-path spot at the Coralville Reservoir he liked to call “Camp Three-Trees”. He also enjoyed hiking, cross-country skiing, ice skating, boating/water skiing, archery and motorcycling.
Bob was a connoisseur of funny tee-shirts, with favorites such as: “I have the body of a god. (Unfortunately, it’s Buddha)”; “Protons have mass…I didn’t even know they were Catholic”; “My name is Bob…For those with dyslexia, my name is Bob”. He also had an interest in Native American and Egyptian culture, lighthouses, and dabbled in wood carving.
Bob is survived by his wife Mary; sons Pat Stessman, Nick (Toni Dingman) Stessman; foster son Hung (Quyen) Lam and their children Theresa and Kevin, and numerous extended family, friends and four-legged grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert Henry and Blanche Stessman.
A Celebration of Bob’s Life will be held on Monday, September 23, 2024 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Lensing’s Oak Hill, Coralville, IA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed in Bob’s memory to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (theaftd.com) or The American Heart Association.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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