Robert Edward Beard

Robert Edward Beard, 92, of Mingo, died Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. A funeral service was Tuesday, Dec. 12 at the Mingo United Methodist Church, with burial at McKeever Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Mingo United Methodist Church or Wounded Warriors Project and condolence smay be left for the family at coburnfuneralhomes.com.

The son of Jesse and Lillie (Good) Beard, Robert was born Jan. 27, 1925, north of Mingo. He grew up in the Mingo/Colfax area. Robert went to school in Mingo and Colfax. He proudly served in the United States Army during World War II and served three years with Merrill’s Marauders in China, Burma and the India theaters. Bob met Phyllis at Esther and Dell Hindman’s home in Newton. He was visiting their son, Clair Hindman. Clair asked how Dad liked Phyllis. He said, “Oh, she was okay.” He indicated that he thought she was probably only 13 years old and the same age as Clair’s sister, Peggy. Clair informed him that she was 18 years old and going to nurses training in Des Moines. He said, “Oh, I’ll have to take another look.”

On Feb. 9, 1946, Robert was married to Phyllis R. Hindman in Newton. He was a member of the Mingo United Methodist Church. They had three children, Diana Beard Halfhill of the Mingo area, Ron Beard of the Mingo area and Tom Beard of San Diego, Calif. He has six grandchildren, Debra Pekarek, Michael Halfhill, Brian Beard, Jared Beard, Jamie Kelley and Brandon Powell; and eight great-grandchildren, Cassidy Pekarek, Logan Pekarek, Ethan Halfhill, Johanna Halfhill, Carter Beard, Cole Beard, Kaitlyn McBride and Conner McBride.

Bob farmed nine years near Macksburg. He was a construction superintendent for five years in Oneco, Fla., then returned home to farm in the Mingo area for 27 years before his retirement. He loved camping, fishing and listening to country music.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Harold, Merle, Walt, Leo “Mike” and Francis “Frank”; and two sisters, Dorothy and Lorena.