Robert Pritchard

Robert Erlys Pritchard, 95, passed away on May 16, 2026, at Terrace Glen Village in Marion, Iowa. Visitation and Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 20 at the Geneseo Methodist Church in rural Buckingham, with burial in the Geneseo Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the memorial service at 11 a.m., followed by lunch.

Robert was born on June 6, 1930, at the family farm home south of Garrison, the son of Lloyd and Elsie (Zimmer) Pritchard. When Robert was five years old, the family relocated to a farm in Geneseo Township. Robert was enrolled in the Geneseo Consolidated School’s first kindergarten class and graduated with the Geneseo High School class of 1948. From January 1951 to October 1954, he served his country honorably in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict, including a deployment to Okinawa, Japan.

On December 30, 1956, Robert was united in marriage to LuAnne Otto in Cedar Falls. The newlyweds briefly lived in Waterloo and then made their home on the family farm near Buckingham for more than 60 years. For five decades, Robert farmed in partnership with his brother, Harold, east of Buckingham. Robert was a dedicated farmer who was always striving to improve the farm operation. He took great pride in keeping his fields as clean as possible and continuously walked the soybean fields all summer to pull weeds. He served as a board member for the Buckingham Co-op in the mid-1970s.

In 2007, the couple moved to Landmark Commons in Waterloo where they resided until relocating to Friendship Village in early December 2024. After LuAnne’s death in January 2025 following 68 years of marriage, Robert moved to Terrace Glen Village in Marion to be closer to his family.

Robert was raised in the Christian faith and was a lifelong member of the Geneseo Methodist Church, where he began attending services in 1935. He was involved in many aspects of church life, including as a member and past chair of the Church Council and the Trustees.

Robert and LuAnne enjoyed hosting parties and celebrations for family and friends, and especially loved having their grandchildren visit the farm. They also shared a love for square dancing and spent 15 winters in sunny and warm Mesa, Arizona.

Robert is survived by his son Rod (Lisa); grandson Sam (Katie), great-grandchildren Clare, John Thomas, and Leo Robert; and grandson Ben (Mckenzie) Pritchard, all of Cedar Rapids; as well as his older sister Marilyn (Harold) Ireland of Ballwin, Missouri. In addition to his wife, LuAnne, he was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Harold (Marian) Pritchard and Wayne (Dorothy) Pritchard; and sister Vera (Earl) Bashore.

Funeral service: 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 20,2026 at Geneseo Methodist Church, 3127 115th St, Buckingham, IA, with visitation from 9:30 – 11:00 at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the Geneseo Methodist Church or Hospice of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa. The family would like to thank the staff at the Terrace Glen Village and Hospice of Mercy for their compassionate care of Robert during the last few weeks of his life. Condolences www.LockeFuneralServices.com

Robert Erlys Pritchard, 95, passed away on May 16, 2026, at Terrace Glen Village in Marion, Iowa. Visitation and Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 20 at the Geneseo Methodist Church in rural Buckingham, with burial in the Geneseo Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the memorial service at 11 a.m., followed by lunch.

Robert was born on June 6, 1930, at the family farm home south of Garrison, the son of Lloyd and Elsie (Zimmer) Pritchard. When Robert was five years old, the family relocated to a farm in Geneseo Township. Robert was enrolled in the Geneseo Consolidated School’s first kindergarten class and graduated with the Geneseo High School class of 1948. From January 1951 to October 1954, he served his country honorably in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict, including a deployment to Okinawa, Japan.

On December 30, 1956, Robert was united in marriage to LuAnne Otto in Cedar Falls. The newlyweds briefly lived in Waterloo and then made their home on the family farm near Buckingham for more than 60 years. For five decades, Robert farmed in partnership with his brother, Harold, east of Buckingham. Robert was a dedicated farmer who was always striving to improve the farm operation. He took great pride in keeping his fields as clean as possible and continuously walked the soybean fields all summer to pull weeds. He served as a board member for the Buckingham Co-op in the mid-1970s.

In 2007, the couple moved to Landmark Commons in Waterloo where they resided until relocating to Friendship Village in early December 2024. After LuAnne’s death in January 2025 following 68 years of marriage, Robert moved to Terrace Glen Village in Marion to be closer to his family.

Robert was raised in the Christian faith and was a lifelong member of the Geneseo Methodist Church, where he began attending services in 1935. He was involved in many aspects of church life, including as a member and past chair of the Church Council and the Trustees.

Robert and LuAnne enjoyed hosting parties and celebrations for family and friends, and especially loved having their grandchildren visit the farm. They also shared a love for square dancing and spent 15 winters in sunny and warm Mesa, Arizona.

Robert is survived by his son Rod (Lisa); grandson Sam (Katie), great-grandchildren Clare, John Thomas, and Leo Robert; and grandson Ben (Mckenzie) Pritchard, all of Cedar Rapids; as well as his older sister Marilyn (Harold) Ireland of Ballwin, Missouri. In addition to his wife, LuAnne, he was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Harold (Marian) Pritchard and Wayne (Dorothy) Pritchard; and sister Vera (Earl) Bashore.

Funeral service: 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 20,2026 at Geneseo Methodist Church, 3127 115th St, Buckingham, IA, with visitation from 9:30 – 11:00 at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the Geneseo Methodist Church or Hospice of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa. The family would like to thank the staff at the Terrace Glen Village and Hospice of Mercy for their compassionate care of Robert during the last few weeks of his life. Condolences www.LockeFuneralServices.com