Obituary for Father Robert "Bob" Aubrey

September 17, 2024

If you heard the phrase: “Wisdom, be attentive,” chances are, Father Robert “Bob” Aubrey was celebrating Mass.

Known as a gentle soul, he was particularly gifted for work with hospital chaplaincy, fond of music, a good cook.

“He had a big heart,” said his friend Father Tim Fitzgerald.

Father Aubrey died Sept. 1 at age 79. Born in Philadelphia, he was schooled in Baltimore, Maryland, where he met Father Wayne Gubbels, of Shelby County, Iowa, who was also at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore.

“We became good friends out there,” said Father Gubbels.

Father Aubrey was ordained in 1971 in Camden, New Jersey.

“He came out for our ordination and first Mass,” said Father Gubbels. “He said, ‘I might be out here for good someday.’”

In fact, the East Coast priest did come and stay. He served in his home diocese until 1982, when he moved to rural Iowa and was named pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Massena and St. Timothy in Cumberland. In 1987, he became pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Glenwood.

When there was a need for a city chaplain, Father Aubrey’s priest friends suggested he consider it.

“He really did have a gift of healing,” said Father Gubbels. “He had such a peaceful presence.”

Another friend, Father Tim Fitzgerald, said, “He had a good pastoral radar for people’s needs and just being with people.”

Father Aubrey also had a great love of liturgy, said Father Fitzgerald. “He took his role as presider and preacher very seriously and he was very good at it.”

In 1994, he studied clinical pastoral education and then began serving St. John Parish in Cumming, now known as St. John the Apostle Parish in Norwalk, while working part-time at MercyOne.

In 2001, he began hospital chaplaincy in Des Moines and served the sick and their families at Methodist, Methodist West, Broadlawns, Lutheran, and Blank. While serving as a chaplain, he ministered at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart in Ankeny, St. Theresa in Des Moines, St. Mary Parish in Jamaica, and St. Patrick in Bayard. He retired in 2011.

Father Aubrey loved music. He went to the symphony, the opera, played the organ and had a harpsicord, said Father Gubbels.

“He went to a lot of the national music presentations in various parts of the country,” said his friend, Monsignor Robert Chamberlain.

In retirement Father Aubrey helped St. Joseph Parish in Des Moines with RCIA, with training ministers of the Eucharist, visited the sick in hospitals, and served as a chaplain to first responders, said Father Gubbels.

Reflecting on his 50 years of priesthood in 2021, Father Aubrey said leading worship and preaching allowed him to be a bridge builder, connecting people with God.

Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Bob , O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.