Robbie Nell Pantona

Robbie Pantona, our beloved mother, friend and mentor, passed away quietly in her home in Neosho Rapids on December 17, 2017. She was 87 years old. Robbie Nell Ferguson began life on February 17, 1930, the youngest daughter of John Mark and Alice Ferguson of Harvey, Arkansas.   She was a modest country girl yet fiercely independent. Most of her time was spent assisting her father and mother with their farm, home and livestock. Scholastically, she attended grade school at Parks Elementary and later Waldron High School where she was a standout basketball player as a point guard. She graduated high school from Waldron in 1948.  In 1949, Robbie married her high school sweetheart Jody Yandell. They were married for six years and during that time relocated from Harvey, Arkansas to Sioux City, Iowa. While working in a car detailing business in Sioux City, she later met an auto mechanic named Anthony Pantona in 1956. They would marry and have two sons, Tony and Terry. Also during this time she began working a new career at Iowa Beef Processors in South Sioux City, Nebraska. After 14 years, she decided to take a Quality Control management position in IBP to Emporia, Kansas. She and her two sons initially moved to Olpe for three years and then settled in Neosho Rapids. She retired from IBP in 1982, but continued to work part time at diverse small businesses until 2005. She resided in Neosho Rapids from 1973 until her passing.  Robbie loved animals of all types and always had several pets. In her younger years, you could always find her riding horseback. She also used to love to garden and can vegetables. Another hobby she enjoyed was a nice day of fishing from time to time. She liked country music, and occasionally a good Western movie. She was an avid reader and always had a Western novel in her hands.She is survived by her sons, Anthony (Sylvia) Pantona of Sioux City, IA, and Terry (Holly) Pantona of Vancouver, WA, as well as numerous grandchildren and great – grandchildren.   Robbie was preceded in death by her parents, John Mark and Alice, and her three siblings, Monette, Bernard, and Wilma. A service will be held 10:30 AM on December 22. 2017 at the Neosho Rapids United Methodist Church. Inurnment will be in the Bowman – Adgate Cemetery near Ottumwa. Memorial contributions may be made to the Church or the Neosho Rapids Senior Center and sent in care of the Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.