Obituary for Robin Lynn Ghormley (De Pue)

Robin Lynn De Pue was born to parents Joe and Oma De Pue in Des Moines, Iowa. Robin had three older brothers: Neil, Darrell, and Lowell, and one younger brother, Pete. Robin grew up at the tail end of the Great Depression, and her youth was overshadowed by WWII. Yet she describes her childhood on 17 acres 2 miles east of Adel, Iowa as "near perfect". Her dad built a small barn for the acreage. Stories from her childhood include hobos jumping off the slow train coming out of Adel and spending the night there. When the barn burned down, a hobo-accident is considered the most likely cause.

Kids and grandkids grew up with stories of campouts in the timber, escapades in the creek, and watching nocturnal Southern Flying Squirrels glide from tree to tree. The antics of her brothers, whether greasing the railroad tracks, or her mom flipping teenage-Pete over her shoulder (twice, when he got lippy about her cake!), are legend. Robin's love of God's creation, camping, travel, and gardening have been passed on through many of her kids and grandkids. While Robin has escaped this mortal world, her imprint on her family and everyone who knew her well, lives vibrantly on.

Robin married Hugh William Ghormley Jr., followed by six kids. From oldest to youngest they are Elizabeth (Zibby) Anne Miller, Jenneth (Jenny) Lynn Osler (Keith), Hugh William (Will) Ghormley III (Lauri), Joseph (Joe) Beveridge Ghormley (Karen), Layne Marie Love-Ghormley, and Christian (Chi) Rho Ghormley. Robin has 23 grandkids, and 28 great grandkids.

Robin inherited her mother's creative talents. As a stay-at-home mom, Robin worked as a photo-colorist for photography studios. Colorizing monochromatic film by hand phased out in the late 1960s, but Robin's children loved the smell of oil paints, turpentine, and watching her work. That creative spirit was passed to her children and many of her grandkids.

Following her divorce from Hugh, Robin worked as a key-punch data entry specialist and nurse's-aide before entering Mercy Nursing School in 1980. She retired from Mercy Hospital as a RN Floor Charge Nurse. In retirement she worked part time for Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement in Des Moines. When Robin sold her home, she moved into Windsor Crossing where she made many new friends. Robin lived life to its fullest and put heart and soul into her life's work, much of which was nurturing her family and those around her.

Robin is preceded in passing by her parents Joe and Oma, her four brothers Neil, Darrel, Lowell, and Pete, and her ex-husband Hugh.

Her Celebration of Life will be hosted at Windsor Crossing Community Room, 6336 Hickman Road, Windsor Heights, Iowa Friday the 31^st of July at 11:00AM.  Luncheon will be at noon.

Her interment at Oakdale Cemetery, Adel, Iowa, will follow.

In lieu of flowers Robin requested donations be made to MercyOne Hospice at: https://www.mercyonehomecarehospice.org/donate