The Master Guitarist, Robert E. "Bob" Dawdy, age 70, of Sergeant Bluff, died Monday, January 21, 2013 at his residence surrounded by his family and friends.

Services will be held 10:30 am Saturday at the Community United Methodist Church in Sergeant Bluff with Rev. Deborah Stowers officiating and burial to follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from1-8 pm Thursday at Waterbury Funeral Service. Family will be present at the Community United Methodist Church during visitation from 4-8 pm Friday with a Prayer Service at 7 pm. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service. Online condolences can be sent to www.waterburyfuneralserviceinc.com.

Robert Edward Dawdy was born at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on December 16, 1942, the son of Richard and Mary (Green) Dawdy. The family moved to Sioux City in the late 1940’s. Bob was a self taught musician, who started playing at age 4. In 1958, at the age of 15, Bob became lead guitarist for The Screamers. They later changed their name to The Velaires made up of Bob Dawdy, Dan Matusak, Jerry DeMers and Don Bourett. During 1961, they performed on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and in 1963 they performed with Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars. The Velaires were inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. In April of 2013 the Velaires will be inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Bob was married to Pat Hudson. They had two children, Bob Jr. and Lisa. He later was married to Penny Grote with whom he had two stepchildren, Mark and Mike.

Bob performed concerts for many benefits, especially those for missing and exploited children. He shared his gift of music to anyone wishing to listen and/or learn. Bob taught thousands of people to play the guitar and other instruments. He taught at Flood Music, Midbell Music and from home. Some of his students went on to study music at Berklee in Boston. Bob was celebrated for his lifetime of music at The Chesterfield last year which was also his last public performance. Following this performance, he fulfilled his lifetime dream of attending the 55th annual Monteray Jazz Fest along with his son, Bobby Jr.

Bob is survived by his son Robert E. “Bob” Dawdy, Jr, and his significant Sherry Jordan; son-in-law Jeff Fylstra; 4 grandchildren, Tiffany, Amber (Nick) Hogan, Natalie and Nathan; 4 great-grandchildren; his step-sons Mark and Mike Grote; two brothers, Daniel Dawdy and Allan (Deb) Dawdy, three sisters, Penny Engel, Janice (Ron) Sindelar and Lori Potts.

He was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Mary Dawdy, and his daughter, Lisa Fylstra this past November.

Pallbearers will be Don Bourett, Mike King, Gene Ambroson, Dave Napier, Denny Wurster, Benny Barnes, Ron Johnson and Bill Pachet.