Robert Borelli

Robert J. “Bob” Borelli, 78, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, went to be with his Lord on Monday morning, November 11, 2024, surrounded by his family, at the Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 A.M. Friday, November 15, 2024, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with Rev. Kenneth J. Glaser officiating.
Visitation: 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids and for one hour before the service at the church on Friday.
Rosary: 5:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home.
Parish Scripture Service: 7:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home.
Interment: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
A Memorial Fund has been established for Hospice House of Mercy and the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein is assisting with arrangements.
Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Robert Borelli was born June 13, 1946, in Dixon, Illinois to Nildo and Virginia Borelli. He graduated from Newman High School in 1964. He met the love of his life, Judy McGrath, of Sterling, Illinois, during his high school years. Upon his graduation, the two married on September 16, 1967, at St. Mary’s in Sterling. The two spent their married life in Cedar Rapids. Bob worked at Rockwell Collins for 43 years, holding various positions as a test manager, quality control engineer, and procurement quality engineer. Bob and Judy raised their family in the Catholic Church as faith was the cornerstone of their life. Bob was a member of St. Wenceslaus Parish in Cedar Rapids where he was an active volunteer. Bob also helped at St. Ludmilla’s School and Parish as he worked there for the past 15 years part-time as a much-loved maintenance worker after his time at Rockwell. He was an avid Chicago Cubs and Bears fan. Everyone enjoyed his unique sense of humor. He was always making time to travel to attend the events of his grandchildren where he always had his camera. When his grandsons were young, he could even be found coaching baseball with his son in the Hiawatha Kid’s League, an organization for which he was a coach and commissioner when his own kids were small. He was a teacher, a coach and one of the best listeners. He was very handy and could fix almost anything. He was an excellent cook and shared this love with his family on numerous occasions. He was delighted in making others happy and wanted little recognition. Bob was steadfast in his faith and taught his family to be thankful for their blessings.

Bob is survived by his wife, Judy, and his three children, Rob (Julie), Ted (Tricia), and Bridget (Casey). He has seven much loved grandchildren, Corbin and Vanessa Borelli, Owen, Ian and Emilia Borelli, and Natalia and Noah Scales. Bob had one sister, Barb (Merle) and several nieces and nephews from the Pitman side. He had five sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law on the McGrath side as well as several of their spouses, nieces, and nephews from the Sterling/Rock Falls area, all of whom saw Bob as a role model and friend.

He was preceded in death and welcomed into Heaven by his grandson, Nathaniel and Bob’s parents.

Bob’s extended family and friends treasured time spent with him as he always made time together special. He will be greatly missed.