Robert V. Pischke, 93, of Eldridge, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at Park View Lutheran Church in Park View. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Military honors will follow at the church. Burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Park View Lutheran Church or to the Eldridge American Legion Post 639.
Robert (Bob) was born on April 25, 1926, on the family farm near North Bend, Wis., to Melvin and Edna (Swenson) Pischke. While attending LaCrosse Central High School, he served as president of his senior class and was recognized as a standout student and athlete. It was there Bob met his sweetheart, Jacquelyn Joy Dunn, and they were voted King and Queen of his senior prom. Bob and Joy were united in marriage on April 12, 1947, in Davenport. She preceded him in death on Nov. 20, 2004.
Bob enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943, while still in high school. He was accepted into the Cadet program and had entered training as an officer and fighter pilot. Due to an abundance of pilots, he was trained as a gunner on a B-29 bomber. He was honorably discharged following the war.
Bob attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, on the G.I. Bill, earning degrees in both business and economics in 1951.
Bob owned and operated the former Eldridge Pharmacy from 1955-1982. Additionally, he was a real estate agent for Century 21 from 1976-1982. Afterwards, he served as a licensed insurance agent and broker, specializing in annuities, and retiring at the age of 85. Bob was a devout Christian. He taught Sunday school for many years and served as past council president of his former church. He also served as a past president of the Eldridge Lions Club. He had been a long-term member of the North Scott Rotary and president of the North Scott Athletic Boosters. Bob served for many years on the Eldridge City Council, was the first secretary for the Eldridge Planning & Zoning Commission, and also served as Eldridge mayor pro-tem.
Those left to honor Bob’s memory include his daughter and son-in-law, Jane and John Collins of Fond du Lac, Wis.; his sons and daughters-in-law, John and Pam Pischke of DeWitt, and Richard and Julie Pischke of Key West, Fla.; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife Joy, Bob was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Janice Wrobel; his brother, LaMont Pischke; and his granddaughter, Penelope Pischke.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Bob’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.
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