G. Robert Gettman

G. Robert Gettman, 89, of Mason City, died Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at the Good Shepherd Health Center. Funeral services will be held 10:30 am Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia with Rev. Sean McRoberts officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the Mason City Veterans Association. Visitation will be one hour prior to services Wednesday at the church. Bob was born February 26, 1924, to George Peter Gettman and Sara Pearl Shaner Gettman, the second of nine children. Bob graduated from Mason City High School in 1942. At the age of 18, he was drafted into the Army. He was selected for higher education and received two years of credit in twelve months at the University of Utah, studying engineering. He became a Technical Sergeant in the Third Army of General George Patton in the 13th Armored, Black Cat Division, serving in the Battle of the Bulge. Bob was a tank bow gunner and assistant driver. His division later liberated prisoner of war camps and concentration camps. He married Dorothy Johnson August 3, 1945. In 1947, Bob started working for Pritchard Ford in Mason City as a salesman, winning the coveted Top Hatter Award several years, putting him in the top 3% of all Ford salesmen. His Ford career spanned thirty-eight years, and he retired from Don LaFrenz Ford in 1984. He and his first wife had four daughters. They were later divorced. In 1992, He married Elaine Crouse. Bob is survived by his daughters, Rita Duffield and husband John of Summerfield Florida, Wendy Moser and husband Rob of Clear Lake and Naples, Florida, Connie Iske and husband Don of Loves Park, Illinois, and Penny Torres and husband Rob of Cliffside Park, New Jersey; Stepdaughter, Gloria Beeman and husband Gene of Fertile; nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers, Ron Gettman, Bruce Gettman, and sisters, Dorothy Ornberg, Marvel Buehner, Faye Lee, and Lynda McMannes. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Darlene Frances; his brother, Ray Gettman; his wife, Elaine Gettman; and his first wife, Dorothy Gettman.