Robert E French
April 8, 1937 — December 7, 2006
Robert E. French, 69, of Marion, died Thursday, December 7, 2006, at St. Luke?s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, from complications of a stroke. Services: 11 a.m. Monday, December 11, 2006, at Marion First United Methodist Church in Marion, by the Rev. Mike Morgan. Burial: Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion. The family will greet friends at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion on Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Doris; two children, son Ron (Karen) French of Anamosa and daughter Doreen (Jack) Zumwalt of Marion; four grandchildren, Breanne (Robert) Wehmeyer of Dunkerton, Brandi French and friend Wayne Hora of Anamosa, and Tara and Axel Zumwalt of Marion; sister-in-law, Marilyn French of Marion; niece, Lisa (Rick) Roberts of Van Meter; nephew, Doug (Lori) French of Marion; sisters-in-law, Neva Cawthorne of Fairfax and Margaret (Robert) Niles of Cedar Rapids; brother-in-law, Vernie Hole and friend Judy of West Chester; and other nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Martha (Hanan Larsen) French; his only brother, Dwayne French; aunt, Sister Mary Sylvester Hanan; in-laws, Earnie and Lucille (Strum) Hole; and brother-in-law, Donald Hole.
Robert was born April 8, 1937, in Oelwein, Iowa, and his family moved to Marion when he was a young boy. In his high school years, Bob worked stocking shelves at Sorg Pharmacy and at Marion TV & Records, where he helped put up some of the first TV antennas in Marion. During his senior year at Marion High School (1955), Bob began taking photographs for the school yearbook.
Bob continued his love for photography as a Collins Radio staff photographer for nine years. He married Doris Hole August 7, 1960. Bob moved his family to Moline, Illinois, for a brief job at D.R. Light Company. He moved back to Marion in 1967 and started Robert E. French Photography in the basement of his home. Bob?s business later became French Studios Inc. It was the largest independently owned photo studio and lab in eastern Iowa, with over 800 active clients and 23 employees. Bob always kept pace with advertising demands, and was first to introduce new products and technology to the marketplace. He retired in 1998 and continued to take photographs recreationally. He was one of the founding members of the Cedar Rapids Ad Federation and is a member of the Hall of Fame.
Bob?s hobbies were traveling, golf and cars. He was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church and Indian Creek Country Club. He was also a member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, MEDCO, Marion Noon Lion?s Club, Friends of the Marion Library, and the Marion Heritage Center. Bob served on the Marion Independent School Board, and most recently, he enjoyed serving on the Kirkwood Board of Trustees for nine years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to: Kirkwood Foundation-Robert & Doris French Endowed Scholarship Fund, Marion First United Methodist Church Foundation, Marion Public Library Foundation, Marion Heritage Center, Marion Firefighters Association, or Marion Independent School District Foundation.
Messages and tributes may be sent to the family at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under "obituaries.?
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Doris; two children, son Ron (Karen) French of Anamosa and daughter Doreen (Jack) Zumwalt of Marion; four grandchildren, Breanne (Robert) Wehmeyer of Dunkerton, Brandi French and friend Wayne Hora of Anamosa, and Tara and Axel Zumwalt of Marion; sister-in-law, Marilyn French of Marion; niece, Lisa (Rick) Roberts of Van Meter; nephew, Doug (Lori) French of Marion; sisters-in-law, Neva Cawthorne of Fairfax and Margaret (Robert) Niles of Cedar Rapids; brother-in-law, Vernie Hole and friend Judy of West Chester; and other nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Martha (Hanan Larsen) French; his only brother, Dwayne French; aunt, Sister Mary Sylvester Hanan; in-laws, Earnie and Lucille (Strum) Hole; and brother-in-law, Donald Hole.
Robert was born April 8, 1937, in Oelwein, Iowa, and his family moved to Marion when he was a young boy. In his high school years, Bob worked stocking shelves at Sorg Pharmacy and at Marion TV & Records, where he helped put up some of the first TV antennas in Marion. During his senior year at Marion High School (1955), Bob began taking photographs for the school yearbook.
Bob continued his love for photography as a Collins Radio staff photographer for nine years. He married Doris Hole August 7, 1960. Bob moved his family to Moline, Illinois, for a brief job at D.R. Light Company. He moved back to Marion in 1967 and started Robert E. French Photography in the basement of his home. Bob?s business later became French Studios Inc. It was the largest independently owned photo studio and lab in eastern Iowa, with over 800 active clients and 23 employees. Bob always kept pace with advertising demands, and was first to introduce new products and technology to the marketplace. He retired in 1998 and continued to take photographs recreationally. He was one of the founding members of the Cedar Rapids Ad Federation and is a member of the Hall of Fame.
Bob?s hobbies were traveling, golf and cars. He was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church and Indian Creek Country Club. He was also a member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, MEDCO, Marion Noon Lion?s Club, Friends of the Marion Library, and the Marion Heritage Center. Bob served on the Marion Independent School Board, and most recently, he enjoyed serving on the Kirkwood Board of Trustees for nine years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to: Kirkwood Foundation-Robert & Doris French Endowed Scholarship Fund, Marion First United Methodist Church Foundation, Marion Public Library Foundation, Marion Heritage Center, Marion Firefighters Association, or Marion Independent School District Foundation.
Messages and tributes may be sent to the family at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under "obituaries.?
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