Robert B. Sampson, 92, of Mt. Pleasant, died Saturday, January 17, 2015 at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant.
A funeral service for Mr. Sampson will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, January 22nd, at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant. Pastor Shirley Spray of the Community of Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant, will officiate. Burial will be in the Oakland Mills Cemetery, rural Mt. Pleasant, with graveside military honors conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard. Friends may call from 12 Noon - 7 PM on Wednesday, January 21 at the funeral home. The family will be present to receive friends from 12 Noon to 2:00 PM on Thursday, January 22nd.
Robert Brewster Sampson was born February 11, 1922 in Mt. Pleasant. He was the son of James Francis and Mary Grace (nee Leland) Sampson. He attended Clay Grove country school and graduated from Mt Pleasant High School in 1942. On July 27, 1947 in Lamoni, IA, Mr. Sampson was united in marriage to Arline Winona Flowers. Mrs. Sampson died Thursday, January 8, 2015 at the Pleasant Manor Care Center in Mt. Pleasant.
Mr. Sampson worked briefly for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Alaska. Following the outbreak of World War II, Bob was called to the service of his country. He was inducted into the United States Navy of September 14, 1942 in Burlington, Iowa. Bob was stationed at Great Lakes NTS, IL and SCTC, Miami, FL. He was a Gunner's Mate, 2nd Class aboard the USS Arkansas and the destroyer USS T.I. Gary. He was involved in naval operations on both the Atlantic (European Theater) and the Pacific (Asiatic Theater). He was honorably discharged on January 12, 1946 at the USN Personnel Separation Center, Minneapolis, MN.
Upon his return to civilian life, Mr. Sampson worked for the ASCS. He then joined in a longtime partnership with Dick Oldt in the operation of a sawmill. During that time, Bob began a Christmas tree farm. He spent many hours growing the trees but also harvesting and transporting trees from Wisconsin. Many citizens will have fond memories of getting their Christmas tree from Sampson's Tree Farm. For a while, too, Bob operated a Wisconsin Cheese route. He was a member of the Community of Christ Church of Mt. Pleasant. He provided the wood for a large cross which his brother Lee constructed for the Temple at World Headquarters of the Community of Christ Church, Independence, MO. Bob truly loved "putzing" around on the farm - trimming trees, burning brush and cleaning the landscape.
Those thankful for sharing in Bob's life include 3 sons, Ken Sampson and his wife Gloria of Slater, IA, Ed Sampson and his wife Geri of Ankeny, IA, and Steven Sampson of Mt. Pleasant; a sister Gladys Cox and her husband Dean of Austin, TX ; a brother, Lloyd Sampson of Hood River, OR and numerous nieces and nephews.
His parents, wife, brother Lee Sampson and 3 sisters, Mildred Kunz, Adlena Clark and Marjorie Holland precede Bob in death. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com
Visitation
JAN 21. 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM (CST)
Kimzey Funeral Home
213 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
Family Present to Greet Friends
JAN 22. 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CST)
Kimzey Funeral Home
213 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
Service
JAN 22. 2:00 PM (CST)
Kimzey Funeral Home
213 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
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