Robert "John" Rankin, 81, of rural Kahoka, MO, died Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at the Fort Madison Community Hospital in Fort Madison, IA. He was born April 6, 1925 in Canton, MO, the son of Hiram Lamon and Uda May Rennaker Rankin. On September 21, 1957 he was united in marriage to Virginia Wallace in Canton. MO. She survives. Other survivors are a daughter, Dorothy Brooks of Kahoka; three sons Bill Rankin, Robert Rankin Jr. and his wife LuAnn, and Roy Rankin and his wife Janie all of Kahoka; seven grandchildren, Shauna Whitaker and her husband Dan, John P. Brooks and his wife Lisa, Billy Rankin and his wife Stephanie, Joshua Noble, Matthew Rankin and his wife Klarissa, Tabatha Moore and her husband Ryan, and Terry Brownlee; nine and a half great grandchildren; his brother Doug Rankin and his wife Katie of Kahoka and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, John Rankin, three sisters, Mary Shouse, Opal Lee and Dorothy Wagner and one sibling in infancy. Robert was a veteran of the United States Army and proudly served his country during WW II. After he returned he worked for National Carbide until it closed. A year later he worked for Steel Castings as a teapot pourer for 18 ½ years retiring 19 years ago. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 4342. He enjoyed fishing and working in his garden where he planted his vegetables. He especially loved watermelon. The most important thing in his life was his family and cherished the time he spent with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Friday, April 28 at the Vigen Memorial Home in Kahoka, MO with Brother Bill Hauser and Reverend Bob Lane officiating. Burial was in the Bluff Springs Cemetery. Visitation was held after 1 p.m., Thursday with family meeting with friends from 6-8 p.m. Memorials were made to the family.