Robert A. Fedders

On September 11, 2024, surrounded by his daughters and granddaughter, Robert Allen Fedders, 81 years old, left his weary body and was set free to a better place.

Robert (also known as Bob or Bobby), came into the world on Christmas Day in 1942, welcomed by his parents and five older siblings in Racine, Wisconsin. As a child, he enjoyed spending time at his older sibling’s farm, tending to the chores and experiencing all the wonders of life in the country. He had some interesting pets over the years, including a crow (Spike) and a raccoon (Lucy), both of whom liked to sit on his shoulder when he would ride his bike around town. He graduated from Washington Park High School and obtained his bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in secondary education from Carthage College. In 1967, Robert joined the United States Navy. He made his way up the ranks and eventually became a Lieutenant. While serving in London, he met his future wife, Susan Frank. They married in 1971 and lived in London for approximately one year. After being honorably discharged in 1972, he and Susan returned to the states and settled down in Elmhurst, Illinois, where they welcomed their first daughter, Jennifer. After teaching high school biology for two years, Robert moved the family to Mason City, Iowa, to be closer to Susan’s parents. Over the next several years, they were blessed with four more daughters (Jessica, Christina, Rebecca, and Brittany).

While in Mason City, Robert worked at A.C. Nielsen and occasionally moonlighted at Gerard Treatment Programs. In 1991, Robert and Susan divorced, and he moved to California to start a new career with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). After two years in California, he transferred to the CDC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent the next 20 years of his life there, enjoying a successful career and making two lifelong friends, Bob Perrone and Ray Dellinger. He loved the big city life, spending countless hours sitting on his front steps and “people watching”. His daughters enjoyed visiting him in Philadelphia over the years to get a taste of the big city life, including authentic Philly cheesesteaks! Whenever his daughters visited, Robert spoiled them with W.A.M., which stood for “Walking Around Money”. He retired from the CDC in 2006, surrounded by four of his daughters who flew out there to surprise him on the day of his retirement.

In 2012, Robert experienced a life-altering health crisis and had to have major heart surgery. He received the gift of a Left Ventricular Assistive Device (LVAD), which saved his life but came with many challenges. To help better manage his care, his family “kidnapped” him in 2013 to bring him home to Mason City, Iowa. For the next 11 years, Robert enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids, spread out between Iowa and Minnesota. He also enjoyed gardening, reading, going on vacations, viewing and collecting beautiful artwork, painting, spending time with the best cat (Dusty), listening to music (ABBA was his “main groove”), sipping on his favorite cocktails when the occasion called for it, and watching Iowa PBS, the Discovery Channel, and National Geographic.

 Although he always missed the big city life, he also appreciated the quiet beauty of life back in small town Iowa. He was often visited by wild turkeys, deer, and geese in the backyard of his apartment.

Robert is survived by his five daughters, Jennifer (Sean) Skahen, Jessica (Michael) Hackbart, Christina Calvin, Rebecca (Ryan) Evans, and Brittany (Aaron) Opheim; his former wife, Susan Seely; 15 grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and his best friend, Bob Perrone, who continues to hold down the fort for him in Philly.

Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Anton and Ethel (Ankersen) Fedders; siblings Eileen Bjerregaard, Beatrice Andersen, Helen Madsen, Harlan Fedders, Marvin Fedders, and Alice Fedders.

The family will be holding a small Celebration of Life later in the year to rightfully honor this unique and wonderful man. If you would like to join in honoring Robert’s life, please consider a donation to Mayo Clinic (https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donateMC). Mayo Clinic medical staff were crucial in his LVAD journey, so much so that Robert donated his body to them for research and education. Given that, any financial assistance that could help future LVAD patients and their families would truly be an amazing gift in his legacy.