Robert Huffman

ROBERT MERLE HUFFMAN

Robert Merle Huffman, age 76, of Kahoka, MO, surrounded by his family, went to be with his Lord and Savior, on July 9, 2008 at his home.

He was born November 8, 1931, near Libertyville, in Liberty Township, Jefferson County, IA, the oldest child of Hollis Hiram and Jessie Ila Harrison Huffman. He grew up and was educated in the Packwood, Iowa, school system. Following graduation from Packwood High School in 1950, he entered into the Army in 1952 at Fairfield, IA, in the 43rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Division, Company F, and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War and was a Corporal when discharged at Ft. Sheridan, IL, on July 30, 1954.

He was united in marriage to Carolyn Ann Stowell on December 10, 1955 at Fairfield, IA, at the home of her parents and she was his co-worker for the past 52 years.

Bob received the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior on May 8, 1955, and after understanding that Jesus Christ our Lord came, died and rose again for his sins, he followed in believers' baptism that summer showing his profession of faith in Jesus Christ. He was in fellowship with the Christians at the First Baptist Church in Wayland, MO.

He began working for Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company in Grinnell, IA on October 15, 1955 and attended C.P.C.U. classes at Drake University in Des Moines and remained at Grinnell Mutual working in all areas including selling of reinsurance, auditing of mutuals, inspection, training agents and adjusters, and underwriting of the company until February 1, 1971 at which time he and Carolyn purchased the Bricker Insurance Agency in Kahoka, changing it to Huffman Insurance Agency. He became Secretary-Treasurer-Manager of Clark Mutual Insurance Company, retiring in 2002. He sold the agency in December 1996 to his son, John, but continued to remain on the Board of Directors until the present.

He was a former president of the Kahoka Chamber of Commerce, Vice-President of Kiwanis, served as Director and Treasurer of the Kahoka Housing Corporation, secretary of the Two-Cylinder Club, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, board member of the Kahoka/Clark County Economic Development Committee, past Chairman and Director of the Missouri Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, a member of Who's Who in the Midwest, member of the NAMIC Merit Society of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and he was inducted in 2003 into the Missouri Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Hall of Fame. He was a speaker at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies conventions throughout the United States and followed David Brinkley in Nashville, TN, at one convention and at the Legislative Contact Program of NAMIC in Washington, DC. He followed his grandchildren in wherever and whatever endeavors they did and also enjoyed showing his restored John Deere Tractors, one being a 1950 A that had belonged to his father.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn, of Kahoka, MO; a son, John Huffman and his wife, Nancy, of Kahoka; two daughters, Cheryl Hawkins and her husband, Larry, of Glendale, AZ, and Debra Otte and her husband, David, of Kahoka; two sisters, Phyllis Martin and her husband, Wayne, of Toledo, IA and Judy Filby and her husband, Ed, of Johnston, IA; sister-in-law, Joyce Dameron and her husband, Bob, of New London, IA; an uncle, Ronald Keith "Duck" Huffman of Ottumwa, IA; two aunts, Wilda Ferrel of Keosauqua, IA and Edna Allison of Fairfield, IA; eight grand-children and twelve great grandchildren: Angela Tompkins and husband Billy and their children, Kahla, Ashley and Justin of Rowlett, TX and Melissa Swan and her husband Erick, and their children, Jake, Alexis, Elizabeth, Sydney and McKenzie, of Phoenix, AZ; Sara Atherton and husband, Mike, and their children, Anna, Abigail, Joshua and Julia of Denver, CO, Ryan Huffman and his wife, Tara, of Kansas City, MO, Kellen Huffman of Kansas City, MO, Jared Otte and his wife, Rejeana of West Des Moines, IA, Leah Otte of Watertown, WI, and Jachin Otte of Kahoka, as well as nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Glen Huffman.

Funeral services were held Saturday, July 12, 2008, 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, Route B, Wayland, MO, with Pastors Dan Deatrick and Michael Atherton officiating. Burial with military rites was Saturday at 2:30 p.m., Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, IA.

Visitation was held at Wilson Funeral Home in Kahoka after 9 a.m. Friday with family receiving friends from 5-8 p.m.

Memorials in lieu of flowers are suggested to the First Baptist Church, Wayland, MO, or Blessing Hospice.