Robert "Bob" Livingston

     Robert L. Livingston, 86, of Harpers Ferry, IA, died Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, IA. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at St. Ann’s-St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Paint Rock Cemetery, Harpers Ferry. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 AM until the time of services on Saturday at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

     Robert “Bob” Livingston was born November 9, 1939, in La Crosse, WI, the oldest child of Leo and Ruth (Ferring) Livingston of Harpers Ferry, IA. Bob began school at St. Joseph's one-room country school (located next to Paint Rock Cemetery) and graduated in 1957 from Waterville High School. At 17 years old, he joined the U.S. Army for two years - one year in the States and one year near Paris, France. After returning from the Army, Bob worked for two years at Trane Company in La Crosse and then was hired by AT&T as a telephone lineman/cable splicer. On one of his many weekends spent at his parent’s farm, and as he was returning one evening from Lansing Fish Days, he had a car accident and spent the next year in a Rochester, MN, hospital as a paraplegic. He then returned to his parents’ farm and remained there for the next almost 60 years.

     When he returned from the hospital, Bob didn't wallow in his loss, but gathered his strength and plowed forward. His brother Jerry insisted that Bob was able to handle driving a tractor and so it was to be. This was the beginning of Bob driving tractors for his dad, Jerry, and several farmers in the area; he spent many years working the land, which he dearly loved. He had a ramp built to tractor height and would get on the tractor first thing in the morning and never got off it until the day’s farming work was done. He had a siren installed on his tractor in case he ran into trouble or simply needed a gate opened. He especially liked it when most tractors eventually had a cab.

     Bob’s life in a wheelchair began at age 26, at a time when few handicapped accessories were available. Bob also adapted hand controls for tractors that he operated. He built or modified many items inside and outside the house to assist him in getting things done. If Bob could reach it, he could fix it, modify it, or build it. After the death of his brother Jerry at 47 years, Bob became a father figure to Jerry’s children: Glenn, Leah, and Jim. He helped his parents as they got older, especially taking care of his mom in her later years. He had great empathy for anyone with an illness or disability.

     Bob’s concern and interests were always about family, Harpers Ferry, and the farming community. He was so thankful for the community’s love and support, knowing that without it, he couldn’t have been able to stay on the home farm that he so loved. He took great pleasure when family, a farmer, or friend would call to just visit or ask for his help - anything he could do to help those who had helped him made his day. He will also be remembered for his remarkable memory about the history of this community. He loved the days of CB (old style) radios and at age 60, he learned to operate a computer. He never failed to keep up with the times; it eventually became all about cell phones, scanners, and updated computers for Bob. He kept close ties with family and the computer connected him with all the news/photos about his many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and even some great-great-nieces and nephews.

     In life, Bob wasn't dealt the best of cards, but he had the strength to live life like he had been given a Royal Flush. To us, he was an inspiration that we will never forget.

     He is survived by his sisters: Peg (Norm) McCormick, Jean Livingston, and Cathy (Steve) Piersch; and many nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, brother Jerry, and brother-in-law Norm McCormick; niece Deb Livingston; and nephew Todd Moen.

     The family would like to give special thanks to Tom Cota, Kent McCormck, Hope Garin, Veteran Memorial Hospital and Homecare (Kayla, Lori, and Jo Ann), St. Croix Hospice, and the Good Samaritan Society in Waukon.

     Honorary urnbearers are Herb Dehli, Dick Cota, Jack Heffern, Gary Kaster, Rita Mathis, Randy Petersburg, Hope Garin, and Dave Stillwell. Urnbearers are Tom Cota and Kent McCormick.