Robert H. (Bob) Gamble

May 18, 2018

Service Details

Pastor Robert (Bob) Harry Gamble was born to Paul and Gladys Gamble in Garden Grove, Iowa, on March 13, 1936. He died peacefully at home on May 18, 2018, with the comfort of his wife, Anita, and family. Bob was raised in Des Moines and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1954. He graduated Simpson College with a degree in psychology and sociology in 1959 and received a Master’s Degree in Theology from Drake University in 1963. He was married to Nancy Oberender on August 28, 1958, until her passing. They had three children.

Bob later married his high school sweetheart, Anita Howell, on September 4, 1985, a whirlwind romance that took 30 years to come to fruition. They enjoyed a long life together, serving in churches in Griswold and Mingo, Iowa, eventually settling in Des Moines. Together, they enjoyed yard work creating beautiful flower gardens. They especially enjoyed spending time with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Bob pastored several churches throughout Iowa from 1959 through 1998 including Attica-Olive Chapel-Zion, Deep River/Barnes City/Guernsey, Kellogg/Pleasant View/Bethel, Director of Public Relations Interfaith Spiritual Center Colfax (Cambridge), Des Moines Easton Place, Letts-High Prairie, Ottumwa-Wesley, Griswold, and Mingo-Farrar, retiring in 1998. Following retirement, he worked as a testing administrator for DMACC.

Bob was very involved in his church where he had many friends. He had a wonderfully dry sense of humor that would strike when you least expected. He was always full of stories and interesting facts, sharing them with anyone who would listen, whether they wanted to or not! Bob had a creative side spending time working on several woodworking projects and even inventing a holster for Glock handguns that he marketed under his company, LA Tactical. Bob loved the history behind gun collecting and amassed a large gun collection, including those used in each World War. He also was an avid coin collector, sharing the historical facts of each coin with his family. Bob was also a writer; publishing his first book, A Sign, in 2016. His second book, Man Without a Face, will be finished by his cousin, Michelle.

Bob is survived by his wife, Anita; son, Mark Gamble (Roberta); daughter, Michaela Shupe (Mike); son, Michael Gamble (Tasha); stepson, David Howell (Debbie); stepson, Doug Howell (Becky); stepdaughter, Cindy Wubben (Brian); granddaughters, Chloe Gamble, April Shupe, Brandy Ross, Tionna Gamble, Candice Howell, Kamryn Howell, and Payton Wubben; grandsons, Andrew Gamble, Michael Gamble Jr., Rashawn Gamble, Graham Howell, and Mason Wubben; great-granddaughter, Josie Anne Kammerer; and his great-grandson, Noah Walker Ross.

Bob was preceded in death by his father, Paul Gamble; mother, Gladys Gamble; sister, Barbara Brickley, and his first wife, Nancy (Oberender) Gamble.

A service will be held Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. at Valley E-Free Church, 4343 Fuller Road in West Des Moines. A visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M., Monday, May 21, 2018, at Hamilton's Westown Funeral Home, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines.

Memorial contributions can be made to Valley Church at 4343 Fuller Road, West Des Moines, IA 50265 ~ include in memo line: Bob Gamble Memorial. Tax deductible benevolent fund for senior citizens.

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