It is with deep and heavy sadness that we announce the passing of our family patriarch, Robert (Bob) Meyers, 92. He passed up on Aug. 11, at Brookdale Rosehill in Shawnee, KS. Bob was told six weeks earlier he had double lung cancer. He picked out the place to spend the last weeks of his life. He knew KC Hospice and Rosehill would take great care of him. He was so right. Everyone was skilled, kind and devoted to seeing that he was comfortable until God sent for him. He said he wasn’t afraid to die, he would welcome leaving his earthly journey. He left both his daughters arms and passed into the arms of his Heavenly Father. He showed his family how to die with one last smile on his face. It seemed so natural as our dad taught us how to live.
Bob graduated from Lane Tech in Chicago with honors. He was on the boxing team, class president and had the most beautiful distinctive penmanship. He served his country in the Army Air Force in WWII. He had the opportunity to travel Europe extensively. It was a great education. Oh how he loved and respected the U.S.A. He wrote a poem expressing his love and concern for her.
Bob and his wife, Grace Marie, who preceded him in passing (2013) married after the war in 1946. Their first date was at the neighborhood ice cream parlor. Their second date was roller skating and this was the beginning of creating the Meyers family tree.
Bob enjoyed a successful forty year career as a lumber salesman for the Weyerhauser Company. When he retired it was natural to do woodworking. His dollhouses are so sturdy they are still being enjoyed 35 years later. Our family tree has grown into 4 generations of beautiful, loving, talented, responsible, and fun family members. The oldest is almost 71 and the youngest is 4 years old.
Bob was always looking for the perfect piece of lake property. He enjoyed the water and passed that love to all his family. He retired on Table Rock Lake but we think his fondest memories were on White Bear Lake in Minnesota. On Sundays, after church and dinner it was a five minute drive to the lake and we boarded the pontoon for the afternoon. We visited many lakes in Minnesota and collected rocks and fossils for souvenirs. Dad and his family were Presbyterians wherever we lived. Dad and mom were Elders and Deacons and helped on many meetings and projects.
Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa was very proud of his children and their families. Daughter Beverly Deckard (John), grandsons Michael and Matthew, great grandchildren, Andrew, Rebecca, Dimitri Villarreal, Brandon and Madison.
Son, Doug (Jan) Meyers, granddaughters Heather (Shane) Hicks, Hannah (T.J.) Warner, and great grandson Logan.
Daughter Kimberly Hockman, grandchildren Chet Hockman (preceded in 2016), Chelsea Spieth and Samuel Hockman, Great grandchildren, Zoey, Zara, Dathan, Celia Grace (Dobbs) Kaylie, Brennon, Caleb, Kindle and the youngest, Braxton.
A big Thank You to the special friends that visited our dad and brought him conversation and extra sunshine. You were a blessing to him.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the church. Shawnee Presbyterian Church. Military Honors will be held at Resurrection cemetery at 1:30pm, Aug. 17, 83rd and Quivira, Lenexa, KS 66215. A Celebration of Life will take place at 2:30 following the cemetery service, at Shawnee Presbyterian church, 6837 Nieman Rd, Shawnee, KS 66203.
Your dad, my Uncle Bob, was the man who generously took me as a teenager twice into the Meyers home for extended visits. I enjoyed his stories, his wisdom, and his wry sense of humor. He will be long remembered and greatly missed. My love to my cousins -Beverly, Doug and Kim- and their families. I will be with you in spirit on Thursday.
Bob & Grace were surrogate grand parents for our three children and surrogate parents for Sharon and me all through the 1970’s and 80’s. My parents lived a long way off and Sharon’s mother was deceased and her father no longer in the family picture. Bob & Grace gave parental advice, invited us to spend weekends at their place at the lake, loaned us money in hard times,and came to the boy’s softball games. and Bob made a dollhouse for Carly’s 8th birthday that today sits in her own daughter’s room.
Such history is irreplaceable. Such love has shaped us as parents and was a major factor is raising our children.
A part of Bob & Grace Meyers will remain with us always.
George & Sharon Harter /John & Joe Harter /Carly Lee
Thank you sweet cousin. We had some great times when you stayed in Kansas many many years ago. You and he had some fun laughs.
My condolences to the family.
Dad was so proud of you and Sharin. You made it! You both have careers you like. You stayed together through thick and thin just like Bob and Grace. They thought your children were so cute! Lived the Ten Commandments and thank you so much for the great visit at Rosehill. He loved it and your kind words and so proud of both of you. It gave him something to look back on in his last thoughts.