Robert Frank Durbala

Robert Frank Durbala, 87, passed away Tuesday, March 14, 2016, at Skiff Memorial Hospital in Newton, surrounded by his loving family. He was the oldest son of six children born to Frank Alexander and Margaret Catherine (Bins) Durbala. He was raised in Lovilia on a farm and graduated from high school there.

On April 19, 1950, Robert was united in marriage with Suzanne Alma Grundman at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of which he was a member in Newton. Together they raised three daughters and one son in Newton.

Robert worked 39.6 years at Maytag before retiring in 1985. He always worked hard to provide for his family as an electrician and was known to take extra jobs on the side to make ends meet. He spent many years after retirement building a house in the country outside of Newton, and caring for their 10 acres. It was a great joy to him.

His integrity was evident throughout his life in his honesty, his generous spirit and his dedication to family. He was always a people person and never turned down a good card game.

Left to honor his memory are his wife Suzanne of Newton; his son Michael Paul (Sandy) Durbala of Hills; daughters Anne Marie Bonawitz of Naples, Fla., Mary Lynn Durbala of Baxter, and Catherine Sue (Ken) Curell of Boone.

He is survived by 11 grandchildren, Janell Bissonnette, Ryan Bonawitz, Andrew Bonawitz, Heidi Barber, Renee Johnson, Paul Durbala, Cassandra Durbala-Malone, Nathan Curell, Jason Curell, Monica Fitzgibbon and Erin McCandless; eight great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Jean Hollinrake of Weller and Patricia Baldus of Ames.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Margaret Fisher; two brothers, Thomas and Marion Durbala; and one great-grandchild, Tanner Titus.

A funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 19 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton. Memorials may be designated to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.