Gerald ‘Gunny’ Robinson

Gerald “Gunny” Robinson, 82, of rural Melbourne passed away Monday, March 31, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.

Visitation for Gunny will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at the Bethany United Church of Christ outside of Baxter. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 3, at the church with Pastor Wanda Seydel officiating. A private family burial in Bethany Cemetery, rural Baxter, will follow the services.

Gerald (Gunny) Robinson, 82, passed away Monday, March 31, at Mercy Hospital from complications of a fall. Gunny was born Dec. 1, 1931, in Jasper County. Because of the early death of his mother, he was brought up by his mother’s sister, Anna and Louis Saak, and cousin Wesley and Wanda Saak. He graduated from Baxter High School and was married to Alice (Krampe) Robinson on Oct. 5, 1951. They spent 62 years together on a farm near Melbourne.

Gunny was a member of Bethany United Church of Christ near Baxter. As an active member of the National Farmers Organization he worked as an organizer, held many offices and served on the State NFO Board of Directors. He was also on the board of the former State Center Creamery and the Baxter Community School Board. Gunny was a longtime member of the Izaak Walton League. He was a strong supporter of the Baxter community.

He is survived by his wife Alice, three sons, Jim (Brenda), John and Jay, and two daughters, Jean and Jolene (Robin) Harlow; nine grandchildren, Jason and Cory (Jennifer) Robinson, Joshua and Jessica Robinson, Eric, Billy and Ryan Harlow, and Julia and Lee Robinson; two great-grandchildren, Cade and Alec (Cory and Jennifer); two sisters, Doris Chandler and Dorothy McEachern; cousin Louis Saak; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Jerry, and two sisters, Marjorie Marshall and Betty Roberts.

Memorials can be given to Baxter Education Foundation or Bethany United Church of Christ.