Robert E. “Bunker” Hill, age 89 of Clinton, passed away Thursday, June 17, 2021 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at St. John Lutheran Church. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Monday, June 21st at the Pape Funeral Home and from 9:30 AM until the service time Tuesday at the church. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery.
Bob was born in Clinton on November 14, 1931, the son of Rollie and Alice (Hagberg) Hill. He graduated from Lyons High School. He served with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War as a Radio Operator with the Strategic Air Command and with the National Security Agency, stationed Anchorage, AK and later Washington, DC where he did top secret security assignments. Bob married Carol Lundquist on August 25, 1957 in Clinton. He was a maintenance mechanic at E.I DuPont, retiring in 1985.
Bob was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, where he was instrumental in building the outdoor pavilion, the AMVETS, and the former Odeon where he bowled for many years on Thursday nights. He coached Little League and was Troop Leader of Pack 63 Cub Scouts at Horace Mann School. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, playing cards, woodworking, and doing carpentry jobs for family and friends. He cheered on the Iowa Hawkeye’s and Cubs.
Bunker is survived by his wife Carol; 3 children, Doug (Lori) Hill of Tipton, Alan (Valerie) Hill of Clinton and Lori (Doug) Susie of Clinton; 4 grandchildren, McKenzie (Jacob) Blau (Esq.) of Dubuque, Dr. Ashley Susie and Rachelle Susie both of Clinton and Elle Hill of Iowa City; a great granddaughter, Dylan Blau of Dubuque and many beloved nieces and nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents; 6 sisters, Leala Nolan, Bernice Helferich, Irene Decker, Helen Diephuis, Hazel Hill and Maxine Van Norman and a brother, Dr. Leonard Hill. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church or Mercy One Hospice. Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com.
Bunker and his family taught us all how water ski and have fun out on the river. Doug, Lori, Alan, and of course Carol, my thoughts are with all of you. North 9th Street is not the same without him.
Thank you, Dale! So true, we sure did have many great times on the Mississippi – boating, water skiing, picnics. The neighborhood has surely changed, not like years ago.
My thoughts & prayers go out to all of Bunker’s family. I met Bunker many yrs ago when he started riding to work (DuPont) with my dad, Claude Jenkins. My dad would let me take his car to school on Friday’s, so I would drive all the guys to work & pick them up. Bunker was always so nice to me. I will never forget him. Met up with him many yrs later when my dad moved into Sarah Harding & Bunker was there visiting his mother-in-law, if memory serves me right. He was truly a kind & gentle man, RIP Mr Hill!
Thanks for the condolences! I recall the fellows in that carpool rode together for many years. Bunk always thought your dad was a special person. I believe, also that he went to your home into the cave and brought home apples now and then.