Robert D. "Rob" Tyler

Robert D. “Rob” Tyler, 56, a resident of Bettendorf, Iowa died on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at his home surrounded by his beloved family after a courageous 3 ½ year battle with cancer.
A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 3:00 P.M. Thursday, September 23, 2010 at Asbury United Methodist Church of Bettendorf where he was a faithful member. The family will greet friends from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church or LIVESTRONG, ORG. (the Lance Armstrong Foundation). McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home of Bettendorf is assisting the family with arrangements.
He was born September 8, 1954 in Ft. Dodge, Iowa, the son of M. Duane & Norma J. (Hall) Tyler. Rob was a 1973 graduate of Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and a graduate of the Air Traffic Control Training Program in Ottumwa, Iowa.
In 1975, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in Fallon, Nevada and in Italy. While stationed in Italy, Rob wrestled with the base wrestling team in Naples and suffered a knee injury while trying out for the All Navy Team. In an effort to strengthen his knee, a friend suggested that Rob should try riding a bike and thus began an extraordinary new adventure for Rob. He joined an Italian bike racing team and as his riding improved, he advanced to different levels of racing with better and better teams. While training with an even better team in the Alps and the Dolomites, he suffered a fall while practicing rapid decents and by the time he recovered from his injuries, his tour of duty in the Navy was over. He admitted that it sounded like a sad ending, but he was truly burnt up. He had trained by riding almost 100 miles a day and 250 miles on the week-end and in total put in almost 30,000 miles during his last year! The accident did however give him the opportunity to bike across Europe. He flew to England and rode to Ipswich and caught the ferry to the Netherlands. From there, he rode along the coast of Belgium, into France and final back to Italy covering 1500 miles in 11 days.
He was united in marriage to Teri Anderson in Center Point, Iowa. He was later united in marriage to Peggy Newman at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bettendorf.
Rob worked as an air traffic controller while serving in the Navy and following his discharge, worked as an air traffic controller in Waterloo, Iowa until becoming ill several years ago.
Rob was a true outdoor enthusiast who loved biking, hiking and running. Rob took great pleasure in appreciating the beauty of the world around him and enjoyed life to the fullest. In addition, he was an accomplished gourmet chef and loved to cook for his family & friends.
Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Peggy; his daughters, Nicki
(Desi Schoo) Tyler of Iowa City, Iowa and Angie (Dan) Gwilt of San Diego, California; his granddaughter, Emma and a new grandson expected in November; his mother, Norma Tyler of Marion, Iowa; his step-daughters, Sarah Newman of Davenport, Iowa and Lindsey Newman of Bettendorf; his sisters, Kathy (John) Hughes and Cyndy (Steve) Hilby, all of Cedar Rapids; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and wonderful friends; and his beloved canine companions, “Toby Tyler,” “Edie” and “Bella.”
Rob was preceded in death by his father in 2005.