Robert “Bob” McCleary, 86, of Perry passed away peacefully on Feb. 15, 2025, and is now with his beloved wife, Peggy (Wernli), who preceded him in death in 2023.
Bob was born in Winterset, Iowa, to Cecelia (Langbehn) and Paul McCleary.
He grew up and attended school in the Lincoln Township area and graduated from Dawson High School in 1956.
On Feb. 28, 1959, he married his high school sweetheart, Peg. They traveled extensively together, living in Anchorage, Las Vegas, Seattle and Vashon Island, before settling back in Dawson to raise their children.
Growing up, Bob worked on the farm with his dad and then flagged crops for duster planes. He was a surveyor in the bush when he first went to Alaska, worked for Boeing in Seattle, and was a mechanic in Anchorage, Perry and Des Moines. He retired from Percival Scientific in Perry.
While in Alaska, Bob won quite a few ice-racing trophies in his rear-engine Renault. He later wrote a memoir about surviving the Great Alaskan Earthquake of 1964.
Bob was an avid fisherman who competed in bass tournaments and enjoyed camping with family.
Bob is survived by his children, Laurie Carnahan, Tina Turner, Lee McCleary and Janette Hanna; his grandchildren, Michelle (Jon) Illian, Tracy Carnahan, Kyle (Amanda) Carnahan and Toby Hanna; and great-grandchildren, Bryson, Elisebeth, Camille, Carter, Karsyn, Kallie and Owen.
He is preceded in death by his wife, parents and siblings.
Services are pending and will be scheduled for later in the spring. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Linden, Iowa. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.
