Robert “Bob” John Palla
July 26, 2015
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Service Details
Bob Palla, 68, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes on July 26, 2015, at his home in Ankeny. He was born in Chicago, Illinois to John and Evelyn Palla.
Bob obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from Northwestern University in Chicago when he met, and later married in 1972, his beloved “Sporty Import” wife, Mia. Continuing his education, he received his master’s degree in environmental health engineering from Notre Dame. Bob then moved to Des Moines where he began his lifelong career with the DNR in waste water management, retiring in 2011.
Bob was a social butterfly and was known to many as Señor Bob and Bob with one O. He was currently taking informal Spanish lessons at El Mariachi and was able to charm all he met with his new skills. Bob never knew a stranger and made friends wherever he went.
Bob is survived by his wife and best friend of nearly 43 years, Mia; his daughters, Kristi (Jesse) Christensen and Kate (Leo) Ziebol; grandsons, Isaac and Levi Christensen; as well as a host of other family and beloved friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 30, 2015, at First Family Church, 317 SE Magazine Road in Ankeny. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue, Des Moines.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the church in loving memory of Bob.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Tom Pizza
08/01/2015
Dear Mia, Kristi, and Kate
I'll never forget Bob. He called me his friend. You're all in my thoughts and prayers.
Brenda Patrick
07/30/2015
I worked with Bob for many years at DNR and then we retired and lost touch. I always thought of him as a dear friend. I am so sorry for your loss and know he will be missed by many.
Deb Tjelta
07/29/2015
Mia, I am so sorry for your great loss. May you feel the love of family and friends over the coming days. Hugs to you from Colorado.
marie and Helen Sawall
07/29/2015
Dear Kate, Leo, Mia and family....I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your father, friend and husband. I was away until just tonight. Please know you are all in my thoughts and held there with great care.
Tom McCarthy
07/29/2015
Dear Mia and Family,
I am very sorry to hear about Bob. I will be praying for your family.
I enjoyed working with Bob for many years in the AFO section of the DNR. Bob was always a great help for the non engineer field DNR staff in help understanding rules and policies.
Sincerely,
Tom
Reza Khosravi
07/29/2015
FOR Mia: This is the e-mail I sent to my colleagues at DNR after I had a phone conversation with you yesterday:
Bob Palla's Memrial Service will be on July 30, 2015 at 10:30 a.m
First Friday Church,
317 SE Magazine Road ,
Ankeny!
Talking to Bobs wife Mia, she thinks the idea of having red shirt on while attending Bobs memorial Service would be a wonderful idea! For those of you who do not know Bob, he was a senior engineer in the Wastewater Engineering Section (WES) before he retired 5 years ago! Bob passed away on July 26th! Bob was a great state worker and a knowledgeable mentor for most of the DNR AFO and Wastewater Engineers . Thursdays were the days that Bob used to encourage everyone to put on red shirt and have a happy day. He would religiously go around wishing people happy Thursday and have a picture taken with them. I plan on sporting my red shirt for his funeral in an effort to bring a simile to his face in heaven. I would encourage you to do the same and make Bob and his family happy! He loved Thursdays and it is very thoughtful that his family have decided to have his funeral on this Thursday! RIP Bob
Joe Harrington
07/29/2015
Dear Mia, Kristi, and Katie,
I was so saddened today when I heard about Bob's passing. Though it's been twenty years since I left Ankeny, and even longer since we were neighbors on Sherman Dr, I still remember all of you fondly. Bob was such a great guy, patient and kind, even to a difficult kid like me. Many of my memories of him come from the time when he was my soccer coach. I vividly recall him demonstrating how to kick the ball correctly, with the inside of the foot not with the toe. More importantly, though, he helped instill in me, an unathletic kid, a sense of confidence in athletics, something I certainly had not felt before playing soccer under his leadership.
I am so sorry for your loss, and offer my heartfelt condolences to all of you. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Joe
Robert and Pauline
07/28/2015
Dearest Mia and Family,
Like everyone else, we were stunned speechless upon learning of the passing of citizen, husband, father, grandfather and priceless friend, Bob.
Over the years, you and Bob have been the source of countless great times. How many of us have been treated to a night at the Iowa Cubs games, annual Superbowl parties, PBS parties, boat rides, and so many, many laughs and good times!
We will never forget the way Bob sneaked peanuts, Twizzlers, etc. into the Cubs game in big, hidden pockets. Did you see the way he heaped a mountain of chopped onions onto his hotdogs?
Bob was always ready to go, whether it was to an ISU basketball game in the middle of winter, or a late breakfast at HyVee. He always stepped up to help friends move to new homes or take them to Dr. appointments and much more. Bob was always there for all of us.
I know that the next time we go to El Mariachi, we are going to order the Senior Bob Special. Its not on the menu; its something the restaurant shared special with Bob. Now, there is a vacant parking place in front of El Mariachi, and an empty chair at our table.
We are so grateful for the times with both of you. We are in profound mourning with you and will miss Bob always.
With eternal love, affection, and a margarita,
Robert and Pauline Van Every
Hank Ziebol
07/28/2015
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of our dear Brother Bob. Bob and Mia are the extended family of our dreams. We love you, and pray for the comfort of knowing that he is resting in His Savior's arms.
John & Peggy
07/28/2015
Peggy & I are so sorry for your lose of Bob, Bob was so nice too us was always glad too help us out on anything we needed,always tried too help me get a better driving job,never complained about anything, were so sorry for your lose
Deb (Kilgore) McCauley/Seth Bauer
07/28/2015
Mia/Kate/Kristi
We are sorry for your loss and pray for comfort and healing during this difficult time.
Reza Khosravi
07/28/2015
We at DNR lost a legend! Bob was a great man whom his passing has shocked almost everybody here at DNR. He was a mentor, a friend, a confidant and somebody you could talk to when you needed! recently he called me to have a walk with me and talked about his grand kids with a big smile on his face! He enjoyed his life and really was happy of his decision to retire and be with his family more! I miss him dearly and my thoughts and prayers are with his family who are going through a difficult time at this moment. RIP my friend and mentor!
KIm Fuller
07/28/2015
I am sorry for your loss Mia and girls. Mia, enjoyed visiting with you as my hair stylist for years.
Sara Smith
07/28/2015
I was deeply saddened by Bob Palla's sudden passing away. Through the years, Bob was a treasured coworker for me and for many DNR employees. He was my mentor and my to go person, not only because of his extensive engineering and regulatory knowledge and experience, but also because of his welcoming, friendly, attitude. Bob lighted up the office every Thursday when he showed up with his famous red shirt, and he would go around greeting people wishing them a "Happy Thursday". When Bob retired, he left a big void in the State of Iowa, because of all the work he did during the 36+ years of employment. Thanks to all his work, Iowans have a better environment to enjoy. Bob was also an exemplary family man, loving husband, son, dad and grandpa. As I am out of the state this week visiting my extended family in FL, my prayers are with Mia, Kristy, Kate, and extended family. May God comfort you at this difficult time.
Ron and Mary Moon
07/28/2015
Dear Mia,
So sorry to learn about the loss of your husband, Bob! Ron and I are unable to make the visitation and funeral:( We are on vacation in CO. Our heartfelt sympathy to you and your precious family! May you find strength and peace during this most difficult time and in the days to come!