Obituary of Robert Donald Fettkether

DYERSVILLE, IOWA Robert D. Fettkether, 64, of El Cajon, California, died Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, at the VA Medical Center Hospital in La Jolla, California, after a two year battle with leukemia. A private family service will be held where military honors will be accorded by American Legion Post 137. Bob was on born Aug. 7, 1951, in Fort Riley, Kansas, son of Donald and Bonnie (Mumby) Fettkether. During high school, he worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Dyersville when the facility first opened its doors. After graduation from Beckman High School in 1969, he enlisted in the Navy. Stationed in Virginia and Maryland, he served as a medical corpsman. In 1985, Bob graduated from Unity School for Religious Studies in Missouri. He was assigned as minister to the Unity By The Bay congregation in Chula Vista, California. Bob dedicated his life to the medical, spiritual and emotional healing of others. His career had completed its circle, when he became a substance abuse counselor. Bob enjoyed the California climate, enabling him to grow the most beautiful flowers and plants. He would give up anything except for his phone, because he cherished the communication that he had with his family. His passion for animals was never abandoned. From his first fish aquarium, high on the saddle of his appaloosa, working at the San Diego Zoo and teaching his parrot to talk, his final farewell was to “Chewy”, his dog and companion. Survivors include his mother, Bonnie of Dyersville: one brother, Charles (Linda) Fettkether of Iowa City: two sisters, Linda (George) LeMay of Worthington and Kathy (Randy) Harter of Dyersville: one niece and five nephews: four great nephews and three great nieces. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald; two brothers, David and James; paternal grandparents, Louis and Izel; maternal grandparents, Orville and Marie Mumby; and maternal step-grandmother, Naomi Mumby. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.