Robert Henning Obituary

Robert Henning, age 92 of Ossian, IA, passed away Friday, July 11, 2025, at Ossian Care Center in Ossian, IA.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Ossian Lutheran Church, 305 Jessie St., Ossian, IA, with Pastor David Lenth presiding. Burial will be in Salem UCC Cemetery with full military rites.
Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Ossian Lutheran Church, 305 Jessie St., Ossian, IA and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday morning at the church.
Bob was born on April 14, 1933, to Theodore and Emma (Grotegut) Henning in Postville, Iowa, being the youngest of eight children and a twin to Betty Opfer. He grew up in the rural Postville/Frankville area.
Bob was baptized and confirmed in his faith at Salem United Church of Christ, rural Waukon. He attended country school and graduated from Postville High School with the class of 1951 where he played baseball, basketball, football, and track. He met the love of his life (high school sweetheart), Dorothy Cooper, and they later married on January 22, 1953, prior to Bob leaving for active military duty. Upon his release from the military, Bob and Dorothy started their life together in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where Bob attended Barber School. Following his training, they moved to Waukon and later to Ossian. Together they raised nine children. In 1962, Bob opened a barber shop on Main Street in Ossian. He also started working at the Union Produce Co-op in 1967 serving area farmers. In addition, he started a home-based barber shop where he continued cutting hair for local men from the community. He fully retired from the Co-op at the age of 78.
Bob was a member of the Ossian Volunteer Fire Department and served as an EMT on the Ossian Ambulance Service. He is a member of the American Legion Brockman-Hammersland Post #503. Bob was an active member of the Ossian Lutheran Church. He was a sports enthusiast and enjoyed rooting for the Green Bay Packers and Iowa Hawkeyes. Other interests included golfing, playing cards and camping. He loved attending his grandchildren's sporting events, and enjoyed his own personal parking spot at the field.
Bob is survived by his children, Barb (Doug) Fairchild, Randy (Denise) Henning, Dan (Sharon) Henning, Jim (Diane) Henning, Diane (Robert) Martin, Karen (Dale) Bucheit, Karla (Ken) Buchheit, David (Sandra) Henning and Stacy, wife of the late Steven Henning. He is also survived by 24 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, 4 step-great-grandchildren and 3 step-great-great grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Emma Henning, his wife, Dorothy of 72 years, his son, Steven Henning, great grandson, Clayton Henning, siblings and their spouses Reuben (Charlotte) Henning, Lawrence (Alice) Henning, Lorraine (Harlan) Koenig, Irvin (Norma) Henning, Calvin (June) Henning, Gertrude (Robert) Hagen, and Betty (Virgil) Opfer.
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