Robert “Bob” Francis McDermott, 94, of Cascade, Iowa, passed away prayerfully on Friday, September 11, 2026. He was with family and was heard praying “Hail Mary” in the last moments of his life.

Visitation for Bob will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Cascade, Iowa. Where a Memorial Mass for Bob will also be held at Noon. The Reiff Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Bob was born on July 19, 1932, in rural Cascade, Iowa. He was the son of Raymond and Lenore (Dolphin) McDermott. He received his lower education in a one room schoolhouse near his home and went on to graduate from St. Martin’s High School in Cascade. Bob had a deep faith in the Lord Jesus and raised six children in the Catholic faith. He prayed the rosary often with his family.

Bob was a worker at heart and worked very hard on the farm until he moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa at the age of 20 and began loading trucks for Coke-a-Cola Bottling Company. Some 20 years later he became General Manager of Coke-a-Cola Bottling Company. Later Bob sold cars at Crossroad’s Ford in Waterloo, Iowa for approximately 10 years. Bob moved to Phoenix, AZ where he met and married Barbara Englehart on August 3, 1996. Bob sold real estate in Phoenix for the next 40 years until the age of 90. Bob would have kept on working if he was able to do so.

Bob and Barbara were blessed to find each other in the middle years of their lives. They enjoyed family and friends, playing cards, and dining out. They also enjoyed watching the Phoenix Suns and DiamondBacks on TV. During the winter months in Phoenix their families would visit them.

In 2024 Bob and Barbara made a very difficult decision for Bob to move back to Cascade where his children could help care for him. Bob lived at Accura Healthcare of Cascade where he lived for the last 27 months of his life.

At Accura Bob enjoyed the companionship of his older brother, Alan McDermott. On Valentine’s Day 2024 Bob sent all the staff ladies at Accura a Valentine Day card and that Spring they elected him Prom King.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Barbara McDermott of Showlon, AZ; five children, Kim (Kevin) Freeman of Cedar Falls, Mark McDermott of Cedar Rapids, Steve (Lisa) McDermott of Olathe, KS, Kristi Schmitt of Cedar Falls, and Richard McDermott of Los Angeles, CA; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; three brothers, Earl McDermott and Jerry (Shirley) McDermott both of Cascade, and Howard (Carol) McDermott of Monticello; one sister-in-law, Maureen McDermott of Cascade.

He is also survived by three step-children, Stephanie (Bill) Dawson, Anthony (Debra) Bicar, and Lisa (Paul) Gled; six step-grandchildren; and seven step-great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Shelley McDermott; two brothers Alan and Ken McDermott; one sister Betty (Jack) Vance; two sisters-in-law, Mary McDermott and Marjorie McDermott; one step-daughter, Allison (Ron) Belther.

The family is extremely grateful for the compassionate care of Accura healthCare and St. Croix Hospice staff. They are truly amazing caregivers. Family is also grateful for Deacon Joe for all his spiritual care and support for Bob.

In Lieu of flowers a Robert F. McDermott Memorial Fund has been established.