Robert M. Lack

Robert Merlin Lack, age 94, passed away peacefully at his home in Clear Lake, on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. 

Robert Lack was born in Waucoma, Iowa in 1929 to Earl (Tom) Waid and Clarice (Woodward) Waid.  Clarice Waid passed away while Robert was still very young.  At the age of two Robert began living with his adoptive parents John and Bernice (Waid) Lack in Orchard, Iowa, where he remained until after graduating from Orchard High School on May 15, 1947.

Robert worked on his parents farm until graduating.  He then became a TV repairman and later worked at White Farm in Charles City, Iowa, until the plant closed  in 1993. 

On June 24, 1962 Robert married Jacqueline Lee Bakkum at the First Congregational United Church in Orchard. They resided in Osage, Iowa, where they raised their six children.  In 2019 Robert and Jacqueline relocated to Clear Lake.

Robert loved spending time with his wife and family.  He loved camping, doing puzzles and playing Hand and Foot.  At 94 he remained the undefeated Ladder Ball Champion of his family.  Most of all he was a kind and gentle man who was loved by all that knew him. 

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jacqueline; and five of their six children,  Nancy Seggarman, of Pueblo West, Colo., Clarice Armand, Greenville, Tenn., Shawne and Terry Gunsallus, Austin, Minn., Shane and Jean (Maez) Lack, Fredericksburg, Va. and Cindy and Jay Greenzweig, Carmel, Ind; his 10 grandchildren, Angel, John, Dwaine, Christina, April, Heather, Cory, Hannah, Jakob and Jaden; 16 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great grandchildren; half sister, Diane (Waid) Cardos; and half brother, Timothy Waid; sister-in-law, Sandra (Bakkum) and her husband, Leland Shultz; and multiple nieces, nephews and cousins.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, John and Bernice Lack; son, Dennis Robert Lack; sister, Mary Lou (Woodward) Dale’; half brother, Garland Waid; son-in-law, Owen Armond; Mother In-Law and Father In-Law, Alyce (Holmquist) and John Bakkum; a sister In-law, Loma (Bakkum) Roske and her husband, Floyd Roske; and one brother-in-law, John Jr. “Sonny” Bakkum.

Robert’s final wishes were that we do not mourn his death.  Instead, he wished to be cremated and asked that his wife, children and their families privately celebrate the life that they had loved and lived together.

Anyone wishing to send condolences may send them to the following address: 200 Glen Oaks Dr., Unit 308, Clear Lake, Iowa 50428