Wayne Lee Dobson

August 16, 1928 - October 3, 2019

Wayne L. Dobson Gowrie, Iowa Date of Death: October 3, 2019 Wayne Lee Dobson, 91, of Gowrie, IA, died October 3, 2019 at Pearl Valley Rehabilitation and Nursing in Gowrie. Private family services for both Wayne and his wife, Flo, who died February 5, 2018, will be held at a later date at Junction Township Cemetery, Grand Junction, Iowa. Military honors for Wayne Dobson will be conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard. Wayne was born on August 16, 1928 near Glidden in Carroll County, Iowa. He was the youngest of five children born to Charlie Edward Dobson and Lora Marie (Sapp) Dobson. When he was a youth his family moved to Grand Junction, Iowa where he enjoyed raising livestock and competing in the Greene County Fair where he earned several ribbons. Wayne played basketball for Grand Junction High School and was voted All County Center. After graduation in 1946 he joined the Navy at the age of 17 and served with honor for two years aboard the troop transport, General George M. Randall, on the Atlantic Coast and in the South Pacific where many of the ports of call were battlefields of the recently completed World War II. Upon completion of his Navy enlistment Wayne returned to Iowa. On October 29, 1948 he married Frances FloElla (Flo) Cleland of Beaver, Iowa where they made their home for five years. In 1953 they moved to Gowrie, Iowa where they built a home and Wayne worked as a carpenter for Phil Lind with Lind Construction. When Phil closed the business, Wayne went to work for Woodruff & Evans Construction in Fort Dodge and became a construction superintendent. He managed many large projects over the next 25 years including what was then known as the “new addition” to the Gowrie School including a gymnasium that is still in use today. In 1984 Wayne was employed as a construction superintendent for Story Construction of Ames. His home remained in Gowrie but he and Flo bought and moved a trailer home to several communities closer to his current work location. Wayne retired in 1990. Over the years Wayne enjoyed deer and pheasant hunting and fishing with his family. He was involved with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts Troop 15 in Gowrie serving as Cub Master, Scout Master, Board member, and always a supporter at pancake feeds, camp outs, and functions such as the Memorial Day parade and 4th of July parades where he marched proudly with his scouts. “Timer,” as he was known in the immediate family, never missed a football game when his sons were on the team. “Grandpa Timer” had a special fondness for his seven granddaughters and one grandson. All who knew Wayne saw his eyes light up when he talked about one of his several trips to Alaska to fish and sightsee. During one memorable trip he helped deliver a boat from Seattle to Juneau. Daughter Jodi’s artwork was always admired by Timer and he never failed to comment on how life-like it looked. In the last couple of years as a resident of the Pearl Valley Care Center when advancing dementia took its toll, he could be seen wearing his favorite possessions – a walrus ivory belt buckle, Nine Lives Charters jacket, and U.S. Navy USS General Randall hat. He especially enjoyed the special coffee times that he and Jodi spent together. Wayne passed away on October 3, 2019 at the Pearl Valley Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Gowrie. He was preceded in death by his wife, Flo; his parents; brothers, Carl Dobson and Floyd Dobson; and sisters, Florence Ure and Irene Reed. Those remembering his shy smile, quick humor and strong man’s handshake include his son, Mike of Konawa, Oklahoma; daughter Jodi (Randy) Kopecky of Farnhamville, Iowa; son Russ (Brenda) of Elkhart, Iowa; and son Bart (Susan) of Ames, Iowa; eight grandchildren; two step-granddaughters; 12 great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandsons; and many nieces and nephews. Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Jefferson, IA 515-386-2171