Robert Lee Lashelle

Robert Lee LaShelle, age 73, of Savanna, IL, passed away at University of Iowa Hospital on September 19, 2024. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, September 28, at Law Jones Funeral Home, in Savanna. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow at Savanna Township Cemetery.

Robert was born July 20, 1951, in Albany, GA, the son of Donald and Dora (Hutchings) LaShelle. His father’s military career had them moving from place to place throughout much of Robert’s childhood, until around 1960, when Donald retired from the Air Force and moved the family to Savanna to work with his family’s fish market. It was during these formative years that he earned his two nicknames, Porky and Wallace.

Robert graduated from Savanna High School with the class of 1969. He then attended the University of Dubuque, before earning his Associate Degree at Highland Community College. Throughout his teenage years and into his twenties, Robert helped his father with the family business.

On September 1, 1983, Robert married Marne Gatzke at the Savanna Presbyterian Church, and together they had two children. Robert owned and operated a waterbed store in Savanna for several years, then accepted a position working security for the Quad Cities Nuclear Plant. After his retirement from the plant in 2007, he drove truck for Sullivan’s trucking, then later, school bus for West Carroll School District, finally retiring this past January.

In his younger years, Robert loved motorsports and would often spend his weekends drag racing. As his family grew, he mostly gave up motorsports so he could be involved in his kids’ extracurricular activities. He was Cubmaster for Pack 48 and Head Scoutmaster for Troop 45 and coached his children’s youth baseball and basketball teams. He always loved sports and had a competitive spirit, so watching his children compete was one of his favorite things in life.

One pastime from his younger years that he never let get away, was fishing. He spent many peaceful hours enjoying our beautiful section of the Mississippi. He loved the outdoors and was a member of the NRA and Ducks Unlimited. He and Marne always enjoyed their day and weekend road trips together, and when Robert had some free time at home, one could probably find him in his vegetable garden or cooking a delicious meal. Robert wasn’t always the most outwardly affectionate man, but he always had a soft spot for animals, and cooking was his love language.

Robert will be dearly missed by his wife of 41 years, Marne; son, Don (Whitney Anderson) LaShelle, of McCausland, IA; daughter, Laura (Dirk Woodland) LaShelle, of Rochester, IL; grandson, Judah; brother, Donald (Sheree) LaShelle, of Surprise, AZ; and sister, Dorothy (Mike Hall) LaShelle, of Savanna. Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Dora, and brother, David LaShelle.