Robert Workman, 90, of What Cheer, died Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 on Friday, February 23, 2018 at the College Avenue Friends Church in Oskaloosa. Visitation with the family will be held Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in What Cheer. Burial will be held privately in the Friends Cemetery in Oskaloosa. Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends Church or to Mahaska Hospice.

Robert Eldon Workman was born March 17, 1927 son of William E. and Esther Rockwell Workman near Springville, IA. The family moved to northwest Iowa where Bob attended school in the town of Gaza. On March 15, 1948 he was united in marriage to Barbara Jane Stakland in rural What Cheer, IA. After their marriage Bob worked at various jobs including managing a full service Standard Station in Cedar Rapids, IA.
In December 1959, Bob and Barbara moved to a farm near What Cheer. Bob loved farming and was an active member of the Keokuk County Farm Bureau. For nearly twenty-five years Bob and Barbara operated What Cheer Travelers, a bus touring business providing travel to many states in the
USA, including Alaska, and several Canadian Provinces. Bob was a vital member of the College Avenue Friends Church in Oskaloosa. Throughout his life Bob was known for his sense of humour, his positive attitude, his friendly and respectful interactions with every person he encountered, and, most of all, for his love and devotion for his wife, Barbara. His children and grandchildren have often expressed that he is the example they look to as they live their lives. After Barbara's death in 2009 he continued to live on the farm and he kept his quick wit and his optimistic approach to life. His spirits were lifted when he was surrounded by his great-grandchildren talking, playing, and telling stories. He often referred to it as "listening to the music."

Bob passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2018. He is survived by his daughter, Kathie Mason of Austin, TX; two sons, Denny (Brenda) Workman and Don (Kathy) Workman, both of Delta. Also surviving are his grandchildren Laurel Mason and Aaron Mason, Brandi (Erik) Wehr, Ashley (Jason) Giesken, and Codi (Tanner) Voss, Holly (Jeff) Ridenour and Tristan Workman, fourteen great- grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Rachel Workman and Olive Hegstrom.