1930-2024
Robert James Cornish, 93, son of Zeb and Lottie (Lookingbill) Cornish, was born Dec. 4, 1930, near Bayard. He passed away Sunday, March 24, 2024, at The Lakeside Village, Panora.
Bob attended country school before he entered Bayard elementary. When he was a junior in high school, he moved to Yale with his parents. He graduated from Yale with the class of 1948. He attended A.I.B. in Des Moines before working in the Farmers State Bank in Yale.
In 1950, he married his high school sweetheart, Jean Dubes. They lived on the farm until he was drafted into the United States Army in January of 1952. He took basic training at Camp Roberts, California, with the 43rd Infantry Division. He was transferred to Augsburg, Germany, where he served until he was called home due to the death of his mother. He was honorably discharged in January 1954.
After military duty, Bob and Jean returned to the farm where they lived until they moved to Yale. Bob worked as assistant manager of Yale Farmer’s Co-op until he later sold feed for Standard Chemical of Omaha.
Bob and Jean moved from Yale to Lake Panorama in 1984 and lived there for the next 35 years. They spent winters in Arizona and Florida and enjoyed traveling and cruising with their friends from Winterset Park, Florida. Due to Bob’s health, they moved to The Lakeside Village, Panora in 2019.
Bob served on the Yale United Methodist Church Board, the Hope Parish Council, and the YJB School Board. After the Yale United Methodist Church closed, he transferred his membership to Panora United Methodist Church. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge where he had served as master and additionally a 50-year member of the O.E.S. where he served as worthy patron, among other offices.
Bob was a very loving husband, father and grandfather and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He greatly enjoyed the outdoors working in his yard, planting flowers and tending his birdfeeders. He could also be found at his BBQ grill or picnicking with his family at Springbrook State Park. He enjoyed hunting. He and Jean loved driving around the countryside admiring the fields and the crops each season. He enjoyed card games and square dancing with Jean. He loved photographing family functions as well as landscapes of their travels. Being an avid horse lover, Bob had fun attending the Yale Saddle Club horse shows well into his 90s. Bob and Jean enjoyed singing together and did so for different events over the years. Bob always had a smile and greeted everyone he met.
Bob is survived by his wife, Jean Cornish of Panora; daughters, LuAnn (Bruce) Tamisiea of Okoboji and Lori (Tim) Raup of Panora; five grandchildren, C.J. Cave, Kelsey (David) Parker, Tyler (Michaela) Tamisiea, Reid (Sara) Tamisiea and Brooke (Chad) Tredway; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Barbara Cornish; nephew, Mark Cornish; and sister-in-law, Vernona Dubes.
Memorial services will be 2 p.m., Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Panora United Methodist Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial of his urn will be in the Brethren Cemetery, Panora following the service.
Memorials may be directed to The Yale Saddle Club, Panora EMS and Care Initiatives Hospice.
The family would like to thank The Lakeside Village and Hospice who so lovingly took care of Bob.
Twigg Funeral Home, Panora, is entrusted with his services.