Robert Wayne Headlee

Robert Wayne “Bob” Headlee passed away peacefully with his wife of almost 58 years by his side on June 4, 2023, at Banner University Hospital in Tucson, Arizona.  Bob was born in Lake City, Iowa, September 5, 1946, to Harold and Lucille Headlee, Gowrie, Iowa.  He graduated Prairie View High School, Gowrie, Iowa, Fort Dodge Community College, and Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, all with honors.  He was inducted into Iowa State Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, National Agriculture Honor Society, in April 1968. Bob married Linda Matticks from Farnhamville, Iowa, and they had three children, Warren, Brenda, and Lisa.  Following graduation from Iowa State, Bob and his family moved to Clarinda, Iowa, where he was Southwest Iowa Farm Business Association consultant.  His love was farming.  In 1972 he had the opportunity to rent farmland and began his career as a farmer.  In 1975 he was honored as Montgomery County, Iowa, Farm Bureau Outstanding Young Farmer.  In 1976 Bob and his family bought their farm near Bethesda, Iowa, where they resided until his retirement.  A family and a farm ….  he had all he ever wanted.   He began a second career a few years before retirement appraising farm real estate and selling real estate.  He was a humble and honest man, and he was complemented by the number of neighbors and friends who employed his appraisal and sales services.  Following retirement, Bob and Linda spent the next several years traveling and eventually settled at Whetstone, Arizona.  His lifelong dream of driving the Alaska Highway was fulfilled soon after retirement. Another love of Bob’s was his guitar and his music.  He wrote many songs, some of which he recorded.  Linda cherishes the love songs he wrote to her for special occasions.  He had a beautiful bass voice and entertained in bars (he didn’t like that because people weren’t listening}, churches (scared him because people were listening), weddings, family gatherings, and multiple jam sessions wherever their travels took them.  He loved when Linda would join him and sing harmony. He and Linda rode many, many ATV trails in mountains of Colorado and Arizona.  He was a member of Red Oak, Iowa, First United Methodist Church, where he was very involved in music, youth group, and was Chairman of the Administrative Council prior to his retirement.  It cannot be forgotten that Bob was a wit.  You could not be in a conversation with Bob very long until he had you laughing.  Even the many doctors and nurses who so lovingly cared for him during his last illness were astounded at his never-ending sense of humor.   Bob was preceded in death by his parents, and two infant granddaughters.  He is survived by his wife, Linda, his beloved black lab, Chica,  his children and their families, sister, Janice ( Jim) Merrill, brother, Jim Headlee,  honorary  sister, Carolyn Kaufman and her husband, Del, Linda’s sisters, Sharon McCoy, Beverly (Alvin) Fischer, Sandra (Larry) Lange, Marolyn (Tom) Johnstone, as well as nieces and nephews who always thought he was funny Uncle Bob, extended family, neighbors Darrel and LeeAnn Howell, and friends too numerous to name.  No services will be held at this time.  Memorials can be made in Bob’s memory to any EMS of your choice.

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