Visitation will be Saturday, August 10, 2013, after 9:00 AM Ohde Funeral Home, Manning. Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life Saturday, August 10, 2013, 11:00 AM Sacred Heart Church, Manning, Iowa. Rev. Robert Gralapp, Celebrant. Interment: Sacred Heart Cemetery Manning, Iowa.

Robert Thomas, son of Robert L. and Virginia (Madigan) Gaffney, was born August 2, 1954, at Marshalltown, Iowa. Bob grew up in Breda and Ulmer along with four siblings. Bob is a graduate of St. Bernard's grade and high school at Breda. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Community and Regional Planning degree and a Master of Public Administration degree from Iowa State University. Bob also earned a Juris Doctor (law) degree from the University of Iowa. He was the City Attorney for Manning.

Bob was united in marriage with Donna Kay Sporrer on one of the happiest days of his life, June 28, 2002, at Sacred Heart Church in Manning. The couple made their home in Manning.

Bob began practicing law at the Bunz Law Firm in 1996 and later became a partner in the firm of Bunz & Gaffney. He was known for his quick wit, as well as his sharp mind.

Bob was generous with his time in the community he loved and was active in the Manning Betterment Foundation, Manning Community Foundation, Manning Rotary Club, Heritage Park Operating Committee, Manning Child Care Committee, Der Manning Liederkranz, and Habitat for Humanity of West Central Iowa. He served on the Board of Directors of New Hope Village and the DMACC Carroll Foundation.

Bob was a member of the Sacred Heart parish in Manning. He and Donna were both great fans of the Iowa State Cyclones. He was an avid reader and strong advocate for education. Bob helped to establish an annual family scholarship fund in Carroll County for students who were the first in their families to go on to college. Bob suffered a difficult loss when Donna died suddenly and unexpectedly on September 3, 2012.

Late on Sunday, July 14, 2013, Bob died as the result of a heart attack at his home in Manning, Iowa. He was 58 years, 11 months and 12 days of age.

Preceding him in death are his father Robert Gaffney and brother-in-law Jerry Effron.

Bob is survived by his mother Virginia Gaffney of Carroll; brothers Tim Gaffney of Key West, Florida, and Mark Gaffney of Flagstaff, Arizona; sisters Jill Valde (Michael) of Coralville and Julie Effron of Phoenix, Arizona; niece Katherine Valde of Iowa City; nephew Jacob Effron of Phoenix, Arizona; mother-in-law Mildred Sporrer of Manning and her children; other relatives and friends.

Bob's family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity of West Central Iowa.