Robert Saunders Siddens

Robert “Bob” Siddens, 93, of Waterloo, Iowa, died on Thursday, September 27, 2018, at his home. He was born April 29, 1925 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the son of Charles and Grace Saunders Siddens.

He graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1943; Iowa State Teachers College with a BA in Physical Education in 1949; received his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Northern Colorado College, Greeley, Colorado; and later his Guidance Counselor Certification from UNI. He also served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II.

Bob married Joyce E. Steele on June 5, 1971 at Jordan’s Grove Baptist Church in Jordan’s Grove, Iowa.

Bob taught and coached at Eagle Grove before coming to Waterloo West High School in 1952 as a teacher and coach of football, wrestling, and tennis and as a guidance counselor. In 1964, he became West High School’s Athletic Director and then retired in 1990. When Wartburg College coach/instructor Dick Walker was killed in a car accident, Bob was asked to coach and teach wrestling methods at Wartburg, where he stayed for one year following his retirement.

He loved being outside in the fresh air, either working on the flowers or walking through the woods while puffing on his pipe.

He is survived by his wife of Cedar Falls; four daughters: Kara Watters of Cedar Falls, Erica (Bruce) Luebbers of Sumner, Iowa, Beth (Joe Sheeley) Siddens of Corvallis, Oregon and JoEllen Siddens of Downers Grove, Illinois; two sons, Todd (Debbie) Siddens of McKinney, Texas and Scott Siddens of Oregon; 14 grandchildren: Sydney, Savannah, Sawyer, Madison, Cody, Breanne, Anna, Jeannie, Cameron, Grace, Peri, Julian, Alexei and Eliot; 7 great grandchildren: Kaylie, Jordon, Sonia, Celeste, Jude, Dylan and Henry; and a sister, Patricia Moser of Eagle Grove, Iowa.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his twin brother, Charles “Chuck” Siddens; and his brother, Jack Siddens, during World War II.