h Board, was Superintendent of the Children's Sunday School, sang in the choir and provided special music during the summer. Bob worked in the power transmission field doing sales, trouble shooting and customer service for many years working for Standard Bearings, Precision Bearings and retiring from Tompkins Industries. He was a Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 53 for about 10 years at Union Park Presbyterian Church and was active in the Order of the Arrow as well as working with the OA dance team. In 1981 and 1987 he was on staff at the National Boy Scout Jamboree. His troop raised funds to help the boys pay for the Jamboree fee by picking up tree seeds to sell to the State nursery, cleaning cages at a cat show and selling Christmas greens. When the DNR started the Hunter Safety Program he and Mr. Thode taught in the Polk County area for several years. He usually taught Wilderness Survival. In May of 1992 he received an award for his volunteer work from the Governor of Iowa. Genealogy always interested Bob. He and Helen were charter members of the Iowa Genealogy Society for several years. Many hours were spent going through courthouse documents, old newspapers and walking cemeteries collecting information. On the Mapes line he was able to go back many generations. He did research for people from California to Canada including a large project for the University of Minnesota. He was a Life-Time member of the NRA, a member of Central Iowa Orchid Society (CIOS), and Mid-Iowa Cactus and Succulent Society (MICSS) of which he was a board member. Besides horticulture, freelance photography was a hobby he enjoyed very much. He did several wedding pictures, but he felt it was a lot of work for a hobbiest. His favorite was taking pictures of the grandchildren when they were playing Little League, especially getting a shot of Austin's first "out of the field" home run. Son, Mike, coached girls' softball. Bob would take pictures while the girls played, post them on a website, then Mike used them to work with the girls on their skills. After he retired, daughter, Sarah, talked him into going to DMACC. He took two years of horticulture, photo shop and web design. Survivors include Bob's wife, Helen M. Mapes; three children, Bryan Mapes, Michael (Heather) Mapes and Sarah E. Mapes all from Des Moines' Eastside; grandchildren, Mackenzie M. Mapes (fiancé', Ray Quiroz), Austin M. Mapes, Shaye Mapes and Piper Mapes also of Des Moines' Eastside; his sister, Martha Porter of State Center; sister-in-law, Ina Mapes of Arizona, five nephews and six nieces; many great nieces and nephews; great-great nieces and nephews; many cousins and friends near and far. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Russell Lee Mapes and his wife, Viola of Slater; brother, Carl E. Mapes, Sr. of Arizona; and brother-in-law, David J. Porter of State Center.. Memorial contributions may be directed to Union Park Presbyterian Church or the Animal Rescue League. ARRANGEMENTS BY ILES ~ GRANDVIEW PARK CHAPEL. To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Robert Mapes, please visit our Tribute Store. To read the full obituary, please click here: http://www.ilesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Robert-G.-Mapes/Des-Moines-Iowa/1821259