White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Robert J. Fridley, 82 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died on Thursday, September 18, 2014, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  He was born on August 19, 1932, in Sumner, Iowa, the son of Paul Edwin and Susie (Schmelzer)Fridley.  He graduated from high school in Sumner, Iowa, with the Class of 1951.  He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.  On February 4, 1953, he and the former Helen Augusta Heyer were married in Sumner, Iowa.  Mr. Fridley worked for John Deere Co. in Waterloo until retiring in 1990.  He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence.  He was formerly active with the JCCs, the Lions, 4H, and the Shysters Mentor Program.

Mr. Fridley is survived by his wife of 61 years, Helen, 2 sons, Ben (Mary) Fridley of Hampton, Iowa, and Dick Fridley of Oelwein, Iowa, 1 daughter, Jeanne (Leon) Bachman of Independence, Iowa, 5 grandchildren, Brent Fridley, Kevin Fridley, Andrea Soukup, Paul Bachman, and Bryce Bachman, and 6 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 1 brother, Ralph Fridley, and 1 sister, Eileen Nacke.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 22, 2014, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence with Pastor Greg DeBoer officiating.  Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence.  Friends may call for visitation from 1 p.m.until 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 21, 2014, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.