Robert Paul Ostdiek, 93, of Ottumwa, died at 2:50 p.m. July 25, 2026 at Good Samaritan Society-Ottumwa.
He was born June 21, 1933 in Ottumwa to Homer and Florence Grimes Ostdiek. He married Nancy Carol Stansberry on September 10, 1956 in Kirksville, MO.
Growing up in Ottumwa, Bob served in the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves and the Iowa Army National Guard. He was the oldest person to serve in Desert Storm.
Bob worked as a roofer for a short time. He worked for Akerman Automotive and Vaughn Automotive as well as owned and operated his own body shop. He was known at one time as the best body man and painter in Southeast Iowa. He later was a courtesy driver for Vaughn’s.
He was a member of the Ottumwa Saddle Club, Rebel Saddle Club and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion. Bob also belonged to the Heartland Boot Scooters and enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson Motorcycle. He and his wife loved to play tennis and go dancing.
Surviving are their four daughters, Patti (Doug) Hartsook of Yukon, OK, Tami (Mike) Paris of Bloomfield, Joni (Craig) Covert of Goshen, IN and Teresa (Joseph) Peden of Bloomfield; 5 grandchildren, Danielle (Charlie) Otis, Branson Young, Whitney (Patrick) Foster, Hunter (Lauren) Peden and Ryan Peden; 5 great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Carter, Noah, Riley and Camille; and 2 half-brothers, Gary and Mike Cline both of Burlington.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Kate Ostdiek and half-brother, Butch Cline.
Visitation will be open 9 a.m. Friday July 31st at Reece Funeral Home. His family will be present to greet friends from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday July 31st at Reece Funeral Home with Chaplain Doug McAntire officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military honors conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Memorials may be made to Heartland Humane Society.
