Robert P. Dyer, 66, of Clive, Iowa, formerly of Dubuque died Saturday, November 15, 2014.
A private burial has taken place and there will be a service in Dubuque for Bob this summer. The Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 JFK Road is assisting the family.
Robert Paul Dyer (Bob) was born in Dubuque, Iowa on November 18, 1947 to Robert J. and Joӓn Genevieve Hynish Dyer. He graduated from Wahlert High School and Loras College in Dubuque, where he was a member of the Trivia Team. His major emphasis in college was history and philosophy.
Bob served our country during the Vietnam War in the 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles). He was awarded the Bronze Star Military Award. He was very proud to serve his country and continued to honor and love those who have served our country throughout his lifetime.
When Bob returned from Vietnam, he became a ‘stringer' where he covered the University of Iowa sports news for the Waterloo Courier, Cedar Rapids Gazette, and The Des Moines Register. He worked at The Daily Iowan the student newspaper in Iowa City on the sports desk and the second year he became The Sports Editor at The Daily Iowan. Leighton Housh (sports editor at the Register) offered him a job where Bob did the layout for the sports section and later became a sports writer who covered The University of Iowa, Iowa State University, The University of Northern Iowa, and Drake University. Throughout his career he wrote sports for USA Today, The Sporting News, the Rose Bowl, specialized in recruitment news and provided color for Drake basketball. Bob also served on The National Board of Basketball Writers. Jeff Beimfohr produced a show called “The Ron Schipper Football Show for Central College,” and Bob did the hosting for this show as well as another sports talk show. Bob gave the speech for Johnny Orr, Iowa State basketball coach at Hilton when he retired. Sports was Bob’s lifelong passion and he loved cataloguing information that required him to know details about athletes and sporting events past and present. His favorite teams were the St. Louis Cardinals and The Green Bay Packers, which brought him great happiness and great frustrations.
In later years, Bob served as the General Manager of several radio stations, one being “KJJC” “The Jock.” On ‘The Jock’, he had a daily sports radio show, which usually evolved into talking about history, music, movies, and books. Bob enjoyed discussing history and politics and loved being with his friends and could talk about almost anything. Bob loved music—especially all songs Motown and musicals.
He loved his family dearly, and was especially proud of his daughters Lauren Elizabeth and Ashley Anne. He was married to Mary Patricia Genoar Dyer for thirty-eight years. Living with Bob was like living with an encyclopedia. He was Google before it was invented.
He was a member of St. Augustin Parish.
He will be dearly missed by everyone.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife Mary Patricia Genoar Dyer of Clive, Iowa; his cherished daughters Lauren Elizabeth Dyer (Justin Black) of California; and Ashley Anne Dyer of Chicago; two grandchildren, Justin James and Jayden Anne Black of California. Also, his uncle William Paul (Laura) Hynish of Clayton, Georgia. Cousins include: Tom (Julie) Davies, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; David Davies, of Davis California; Diane Chevalier, of Dubuque, Iowa; and Susan (Larry) Warren, of Tower Hill, Illinois. Cousins Deborah Hart, Danielle (Dean) Lessei, Jon-Paul Chevalier, Tom Davies, Jr., Allison Davies, Katie Davies, Alexander Davies, Christopher Warren, Matthew Warren, Regina Williams, Cheryl Williams, and Claire Williams. Mother-in-law Mrs. Charles T. Genoar of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, nieces, and nephews include: Charles T. Genoar (Rebecca) Charlie and Carter Genoar of Hinsdale, Illinois; Greg Genoar of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; Maribeth Sleepeck (Michael) Elizabeth (Fred) Regnery (Charlotte) and Mary Catherine Sleepeck of Burr Ridge, llinois; Jeanne Colmery (Scott) Harry, Freddy, and Will Colmery, of Western Springs, Illinois; and Nancy Genoar of Iowa City, Iowa.
Bob was proceeded in death by his father, Robert J. Dyer; mother Joӓn Genevieve Hynish Dyer; grandparents Paul G. and Louise A. Hynish; grandparents James and Clara Dyer; aunts and uncles George and Louise Williams, Ruth Hynish, Harold Hynish, Helen Herzog, Mary Ellis, Catherine Webb, Angela Wrath, and Paul Hynish.
The family wishes to thank very special friends; Donna and Kermit Marsh, Don and Pat Armington, Dr. Allen and Gail Zagoren. A very special thank you for the caring and kindness of Dr. Eric J. Holm, Jodi Walvoord, and Dr. Mark M. Belz.
Memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors (www.woundedwarriorproject.org/Donate) and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (www.aspca.org/donate).