Obituary for Robert Dale Locker

Bob Locker, 90, of Slater, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at his home. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Slater, Iowa, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. to noon prior to the service. The service will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@BethlehemLutheran/streams.

Bob was born to Homer and Beulah (Foshe) Locker on April 10, 1936, near Slater, IA. He graduated from Slater High School in 1954 and spent the next two years in the military. Bob then attended Iowa State University where he was Captain of the Cyclone baseball team his senior year, graduating in 1961. He was a member of the American Legion Post 260 in Slater for more than 40 years.

Bob coached high school baseball and basketball at Radcliffe, IA for eight years. He then coached baseball at Des Moines Lincoln High School for 14 years, where his 1976 team went to the state tournament. He was elected to the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1989, the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Basketball Officials Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Lincoln High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.

He officiated in the girls and boys state basketball tournaments 13 years, officiated 39 high school football playoff games and eight championship games. Bob was elected to the Iowa High School Officials Hall of Fame in 1989 and was a member of the Iowa High School Athletic Association for over 50 years. He officiated in the Iowa College Football Conference 13 years.

Bob played semi-pro baseball with the Slater Nite Hawks for 22 years. During that time, the Nite Hawks won nine state championships. He was voted to the All-American team as a catcher at the 1967 National Baseball Congress Tournament in Wichita, KS.

Bob is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sherry; four daughters: Lori (Tom) Todd, Linda (Mike Wallace) Locker, Cindy (Chris) Wilkening, and Debbie (Randy) Terrell; grandchildren: Nathan Todd, Tricia (Jason Hand) Todd, Katie (Josh) LeMaster, Jacob (Mackenzie) Wilkening, and Sherry Terrell; great grandchildren: Kinley and Maddux LeMaster and Brewer Wilkening; brothers: Ron (Rosalie) and Gary (Jane); and sisters: Patti VanGundy and Janet (Richard) Mason. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Bonnie Accola; son, Dennis Parker; and grandsons: D.J. Parker and Matt Wisecup.

He and his wife, Sherry, spent the winters in Arizona beginning in 1998.