Robert A. “Bob” Wirth, 89, of Maquoketa, Iowa passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at Wheatland Manor in Wheatland, Iowa.

Robert was born on December 25, 1934 in Maquoketa, Iowa to Lester and Helen (Steele) Wirth.  He grew up on a farm in Elwood, IA and graduated from Elwood High School in 1952.  In 1956 he graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. Degree in Agricultural Engineering and worked for International Harvester Co. in East Moline, IL as a design engineer.  In 1957 he joined the Army for 2 years and served in Germany at the 7th army headquarters near Stuttgart.  

On April 29,1962 he married Donna Mae Wiese and they moved back to the Elwood area to farm full-time.  The Wirth family farm became a Century Farm in 1993.

Robert was very active in the community, serving as a director of the Lost Nation Consumers Co-op (8 Years), Delwood School Board (15 years), Mississippi Valley Farm business (2 years) and the Lost Nation Elwood Telephone Co (30 years). He was a lifelong member of Elwood United Methodist Church and served as Church Treasurer for 40 years. He was a past Master of the Harbor Masonic Lodge #556 in Lost Nation and is currently a member of Ancient Landmark Lodge #200 in Olin and Clinton Scottish Rite and was a long time member of Clinton County Farm Bureau. Robert retired from farming in 2000 and, in retirement, has worked on the Wirth Family Tree started by his mother which includes 8 generations and 1750 names and many pictures dating back to 1739 in Germany. He served as Elwood Cemetery Association secretary from 2016-2023 and joined the American Legion post 75 in Maquoketa in 2019 when they opened membership to non-wartime veterans.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Donna; children, Scott (Mary Kay Hand) Wirth of Maquoketa, Barb (Scott) Harms of Cedar Rapids, Carol Wirth of Elwood, and Nancy (Jaime) Drahozal of Chanhassen, MN;  7 grandchildren; and 3 great grandchildren.  Siblings Clara (Bob) Larson of Flint, MI, Leland (Pat) Wirth of Des Moines, IA, and Karen Paterson of Baton Rouge, LA.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

A celebration of his life will be held at noon on Monday, July 22nd at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa, Iowa.  Visitation will be held prior to the funeral from 10:00 to 11:45 a.m. at the funeral home.  Burial will be at the Elwood Cemetery.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to the family for a future designation.

Online condolences may be left at www.CarsonAndSon.com.