1935
Robert
2009
Robert L. Cornell
March 28, 1935 — July 3, 2009
SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Robert L. Cornell, 74, of South Sioux City passed away Friday, July 3, 2009, at Matney Colonial Manor Nursing Home after a long illness.
Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Michael Catholic Church in South Sioux City, with the Rev. Daniel L. Wittrock officiating. Burial will be in St. Michael's Cemetery, South Sioux, with military rites conducted by the U.S. Army. Visitation with the family present will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Larkin Northside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be sent to christysmith.com.
Robert was born on March 28, 1935, in Sioux City, to Edward H. and Eleanor E. (Burkhart) Cornell. He attended Emerson Elementary School and graduated from Central High School. He served in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Paratroopers from 1952 to 1955.
He married Rosemary P. Sanders on July 20, 1956, in Elk Point, S.D. She died on Jan. 26, 1999, in Pender, Neb. Robert was employed as a laborer for Armour Packing Co. and for Swift & Co. for 30 years, retiring in 1985. He also owned and trained thoroughbred racing horses in the late 70s and early 80s. He was a lifelong resident of the Sioux City and South Sioux City area.
He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church in South Sioux City. He was a self-taught car mechanic. He also had a terrific sense of humor and enjoyed making people laugh. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include six daughters, Debbie and Tim Johnston of South Sioux City, Patti and Marty Nieman of Dakota City, Lisa Cornell of Sioux City, Carrie and Jeff Lantz of South Sioux City, Judith and Jeff Rector of South Sioux City and Cherie and Richard Lott of San Diego, Calif.; 16 grandchildren, Chad Johnston, Rochelle Reavis, Angela Meyer, Josh, Jeff and Cassie Nieman, Lexie, Troy and Tyler Cutler, Brianne, Brandon and Christopher Lantz, Matthew, Kyle, Alyssa and Brook Rector; three great-grandchildren, Jake Reavis, Olivia Guzman and Keilan Selby; a brother and his wife, Dick and Ruth Cornell of Sioux City; a sister, Chyrol Genovese of St. Louis, Mo.; a stepsister, Juanita Jenkins of Omaha, Neb.; and a niece and her husband, Teresa and Jeff Johnson of Sioux City.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his ex-wife; his brother, Ed Cornell Jr.; and a stepbrother, Gilbert Steele.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Troy and Tyler Cutler, Josh and Jeff Nieman, Chad Johnston, Kyle and Matt Rector. Honorary pallbearers will be Brook Rector and Christopher Lantz.
Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Michael Catholic Church in South Sioux City, with the Rev. Daniel L. Wittrock officiating. Burial will be in St. Michael's Cemetery, South Sioux, with military rites conducted by the U.S. Army. Visitation with the family present will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Larkin Northside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be sent to christysmith.com.
Robert was born on March 28, 1935, in Sioux City, to Edward H. and Eleanor E. (Burkhart) Cornell. He attended Emerson Elementary School and graduated from Central High School. He served in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Paratroopers from 1952 to 1955.
He married Rosemary P. Sanders on July 20, 1956, in Elk Point, S.D. She died on Jan. 26, 1999, in Pender, Neb. Robert was employed as a laborer for Armour Packing Co. and for Swift & Co. for 30 years, retiring in 1985. He also owned and trained thoroughbred racing horses in the late 70s and early 80s. He was a lifelong resident of the Sioux City and South Sioux City area.
He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church in South Sioux City. He was a self-taught car mechanic. He also had a terrific sense of humor and enjoyed making people laugh. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include six daughters, Debbie and Tim Johnston of South Sioux City, Patti and Marty Nieman of Dakota City, Lisa Cornell of Sioux City, Carrie and Jeff Lantz of South Sioux City, Judith and Jeff Rector of South Sioux City and Cherie and Richard Lott of San Diego, Calif.; 16 grandchildren, Chad Johnston, Rochelle Reavis, Angela Meyer, Josh, Jeff and Cassie Nieman, Lexie, Troy and Tyler Cutler, Brianne, Brandon and Christopher Lantz, Matthew, Kyle, Alyssa and Brook Rector; three great-grandchildren, Jake Reavis, Olivia Guzman and Keilan Selby; a brother and his wife, Dick and Ruth Cornell of Sioux City; a sister, Chyrol Genovese of St. Louis, Mo.; a stepsister, Juanita Jenkins of Omaha, Neb.; and a niece and her husband, Teresa and Jeff Johnson of Sioux City.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his ex-wife; his brother, Ed Cornell Jr.; and a stepbrother, Gilbert Steele.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Troy and Tyler Cutler, Josh and Jeff Nieman, Chad Johnston, Kyle and Matt Rector. Honorary pallbearers will be Brook Rector and Christopher Lantz.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert L. Cornell, please visit our flower store.
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