Bob Nansteel, age 92 of Lake View, IA, passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Loring Hospital in Sac City, IA. Robert Lewis Nansteel was born on February 28, 1930, the only child, to parents Lewis and Mary (Jones) Nansteel in Pennsylvania. He grew up in Lehighton, PA, where he attended country school through the eighth grade. Bob then attended Lehighton High School where he graduated from in 1948.
On October 5, 1948, Bob joined the United States Navy to which he would serve for the next thirty years of his life. On June 29, 1952, Bob was married to Gertrude Freese in Lake View. The story goes that Gert served in the Navy as well which is where they met. At the time, Bob was in Flight Test where they reworked engines. When he needed parts, he would place the order with Gert who worked in the parts office on base. The couple happened to be at the same party one evening where Gert was left needing a ride home. Bob of course offered her a ride on the back of his Indian motorcycle and the rest is history. Bob loved to fly and he became a flight engineer. He flew in numerous aircraft during his career. He had the most flying time in the P3-Orion. The couple had two children, Margo and Robert Lewis, II. Being in the Navy meant several moves for the family, mostly along the east coast. In 1979, Bob retired from the Navy in Jacksonville, FL, where they remained living for several years. In the early eighties, the couple moved to Missouri where Bob worked at MidAmerica Test Labs as a foreman. He did this for five years before moving to Lake View where he and Gert purchased a home that they would end up completely remodeling.
Bob was a very intelligent and talented man. He was always in his workshop tinkering with something. He was a wonderful woodworker and quite musically talented. He played the guitar and mandolin and loved listening to Bluegrass music. Bob also enjoyed trapshooting.
Bob was proud to have served his country and continued to serve by being a member of the local VFW and Legion in Lake View. He was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Lake View. Bob was a man of faith and he loved his family dearly. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his wife of over seventy years, Gertrude Nansteel of Lake View, IA; son Robert Lewis (Lisa) Nansteel II of Ballwin, MO; grandchildren Andrew (Kim) Smith of Fredericksburg, VA, and Robert James (Carrie) Nansteel of Valley Park, MO; great-grandchildren Adelynn Smith, Katie, Emma, and Jack Beckenholdt; brother-in-law Kenneth Freese of Georgia; many other extended family members and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Mary Nansteel; daughter Margo Lynn Dresch; parents-in-law John and Katie Freese; brothers-in-law Harvey (Marie) Freese and Marvin (Marge) Freese; and sister-in-law Ruth (Maynard) Daggett.
