Robert Dee White's Obituary
Robert Dee White was born in Centerville, Iowa to Jesse and Daunita White on February 27, 1956. He passed away peacefully at his home on November 19th, 2025, at the age of 69.
Bob started school at #30 school, a one-room schoolhouse on Hwy 5, where he made life-long friends, and still enjoyed catching up with those classmates at the #30 school reunions. He graduated from CHS, with the class of 1974. These good friends/classmates remain close and celebrated their 50th reunion last year with over half the class in attendance. During his years at CHS he wrestled, played football, and was an FFA member. After graduation, he attended IHCC Centerville campus. He played football and was part of the Falcon team that played in the NJCAA National Championship game in Arizona. He studied ag at Northeast Missouri State University, then returned home to farm fulltime with his dad.
After farming all day, he would come home and watch T.V. with his grandpa Jack. His mom always told him that he was never going to meet a girl in their living room, but that's exactly where he ended up meeting Cindee Paas in 1978. Cindee was in Iowa with Bob's cousin who was on a family vacation. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 6th, 1979. Bob was a dedicated church member and served in many different callings. They were married in Anaheim, California on March 8th, 1980, and were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 6th, 1981. Bob and Cindee were blessed with five children: Blake, Anthony, Josh, Garrett, and Andrea. A lifelong farmer, he was able to work with his dad, and most recently his sons.
The things that were most important to Bob were the Gospel of Jesus Christ, his family, friends, and farming. He had a firm testimony of his Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ; the Bible and Book of Mormon; and that we have a living prophet on the Earth today, Dallin H. Oaks. He didn't love reading, but he loved reading the scriptures and studying them daily. He also knew that we could return to our Father in Heaven and have the opportunity to be sealed to our families for eternity.
Bob was blessed to be able to farm with his dad until the age of 28, when his father passed away suddenly. His wife, Cindee, was a city girl from Southern California, but he was able to teach her how to drive a tractor and rake hay. Together they raised their children to work hard, have faith, and always be grateful. Their oldest son, Blake, and youngest son, Garrett, have had the opportunity to farm full time with Bob for over 20 years. Farming has always been a family affair though; their other sons, Anthony and Josh, have also been a part of keeping the farm running and growing through the years. Although his daughter, Andrea, did not farm with him, they had their own special relationship, and he frequently helped her with her own livestock and farm projects. Spending time teaching and having fun with his grandkids on the farm was one of his biggest pleasures in life. The highlight of every year was getting the crops planted and harvested. Bob loved to call everyone to let them know that it was, "Too late to plant corn" or "Too late to cut beans".
Bob enjoyed family vacations in Eminence, Missouri where they camped, and floated on the Jacks Fork and Current rivers. Special times were spent canoeing on the Mulberry River in Arkansas, and elk hunting in Colorado with his buddies. He also had fun working a few years for Chief Construction with good friends. Bob liked civil war history and recently he and Cindee took a meandering road trip, where they were able to visit many historical sites. For over 15 years, Bob had volunteered to keep the offensive stats for the Centerville Big Reds football team. He was a Kansas City Chiefs fan, a Trump supporter, liked John Wayne, and westerns.
Bob was preceded in death by his wonderful parents, Jesse and Daunita (Knott) White; grandparents, Jack and Alma (Fry) White, Robert and Grace (Adams) Knott; mother-in-law, Elizabeth (Wallace) Paas; and granddaughter, Elaina Marie White (Josh and Amanda).
Left to carry on Bob's legacy are his wife, Cindee (Paas) White; children, Blake (Angie) White, Anthony (Chelsea) White, Josh (Amanda Marie) White, Garrett (Amanda Jo) White, Andrea (Zack) Burns; grandchildren, Peyton, Eli, and Mallory (Blake and Angie), Madelyn, Grace, Emmitt, Jane, and Gus (Anthony and Chelsea), Jadyn, Alia, and Emery (Josh and Amanda), Lanie, Mark, and Jack (Garrett and Amanda), Wrenlee, Rulon, and Gannon (Andrea and Zack); cherished sisters, Diane (Brent) Constance and Lynn (Doug) Firkins; uncle, Kermit Knott; and many other beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Per Bob's wishes there will be no visitation or funeral. There will be a public memorial open house to celebrate his life at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Centerville, date and time to be determined. Memorials have been established to the Centerville Community School Foundation, to be used towards the Class of 1974 Scholarship Fund, and may be mailed to Thomas Funeral Home, ATTN: White Family, 501 North 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at https://www.thomasfh.com or https://www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome .
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