Robert (Bob) Lawrence Hohn
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Family memorial services for Robert (Bob) Lawrence Hohn, 79, will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, KS. Friends and family may watch a live-stream of the service at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday on Warren-McElwain Mortuary website. Interment will take place in Pioneer Cemetery in Lawrence, KS.
Bob died December 25, 2020 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born February 23, 1941 in New York City, New York, the son of Walter Arthur and Marjorie Anne (James) Hohn. He attended college at Ursinus College, graduating with a B.A. in Psychology. He continued his education at Michigan State University where he received his M.S. in Clinical Psychology and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. While pursuing his doctorate at Michigan State University, Bob met Norma Lee Chapin who was an elementary school teacher in the nearby town of Haslett, Michigan. They were married on August 10, 1968 at the Michigan State University Memorial Alumni Chapel.
He was a professor at the University of Kansas in the Educational Psychology and Research Department from 1967 to 2006. Bob touched the lives of countless students, including the 26 doctoral students he advised. He received a number of teaching awards, including the Gene A. Budig Teaching Professorship in 1996. Bob published over 60 scientific articles and book chapters in the areas of learning and instruction, memory and problem solving, and published three textbooks. He was active in the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), serving as the President at KU in 1986-1987.
Bob served the community as Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 3059, as Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 53, and in district positions in the Pelathe Boy Scout District. He was an usher at the Lied Center and read Science News to vision-impaired people on Audio Reader for over five years. Bob served as President and director of out-of-town travel for the Endacott Society, which is an association of retirees from the University of Kansas.
Bob is survived by wife, Norma Lee, of Lawrence, KS; two sons, Robert Lee Hohn of Franklin, TN and Keith Lawrence Hohn of Oxford, OH; daughter-in-law, Joanna Lyn (Wood) Hohn; two grandchildren, Elizabeth Anne Hohn and Ryan Michael Hohn; and brother, Donald James Hohn of Bay Shore, NY.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to KU Endowment for the School of Education or the American Cancer Society and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street Lawrence, KS 66044.
So sorry to hear this. Bob was very nice to me when I was a junior colleague at KU. I liked him very much.
Norma, Bobby and Keith,
So sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you go thru this difficult time. We shared a lot of good memories along the way that I’ll never forget. Bob was truly a special person.
Joe Oberzan
Bob was my cousin, older by 24 years. I connected with him at my Aunt’s funeral on Long Island years ago and hoped my husband and I might one day make a trip from our home in Minnesota to visit him and his wife in Kansas. Feeling regret that I did not act on that intention as I would have liked to get to know him better! My condolences to Norma – I will be thinking of you and your family at this sad time.
Norma, Bobby and Keith, I’m so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. He was a wonder man, good friend and I know he will be missed by all who knew him. I remember well all the days at the Douglas County Baseball fields. We had such good times with the boys and all the parents. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this very difficult time.
Bob Hohn was one of the gentlest, most unassuming people I’ve ever known. We first met in the early 1980s, when he was president of the KU chapter of the American Association of University of Professors, and I came on board to help with AAUP’s campaign for unionization at KU, which if I remember correctly we lost by only a few votes. When I retired in 2010 and decided to join KU’s Endacott Society for retired faculty and staff, Bob was the president of the organization, and his warmth and good humor was what encouraged many of us to keep coming back. We are all fortunate to have known Bob Hohn.
I remember the significant contributions Bob made to the instructional mission of the School of Education. Students respected him and were complimentary of his teaching. The University also benefited from his involvement in faculty governance. As dean, I valued is perspectives on the School and the University. He was a valued colleagues.
Norma, Bobby, and Keith. So sad to read of Bob’s passing. It is a real shock. If ever there is a contest for “Best Neighbors,” the Hohns would win and Bob was a big reason for that. One of our children commented on how much your family was such a good influence on them. He will be greatly missed. Love you all. Prayers for your comfort.
Kay Rytting
Bob was a wonderful colleague and faculty member. Across the many years we worked together, he was always supportive, honest and fair. A good man who will be missed.
Bobby and family,
I’m so sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. I have such pleasant childhood memories of Mr. Hohn and picture him smiling in all of them. Praying for you during this difficult time.
Jill Holzmeister Patton
Norma and family:
We were saddened to hear of Bob’s passing and are thinking of you all while remembering Bob. He was a loyal, valued faculty member of the School of Education and participated in many policy and implementation efforts by the School and his department. He was one of the first faculty members I met when I came to KU in 1970 and we enjoyed a long and positive friendship and collegial relationship. He will be missed.
Dear Norma and family,
So sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. He was a wonderful and most thoughtful colleague, someone who could be counted on to speak his mind while always reflecting on consequences to students and faculty. His commitment to instruction and his support for student development were unmatched. Through his efforts and commitments, Bob always worked to make KU and his colleagues beneficiaries of his unwavering attentions. And in recent years, we loved our chance meetings when we were carrying out our “grandparenting duties” in Manhattan, KS. You and Bob are in our thoughts… John and Anne Poggio-
Norma, Bobby, Keith and family,
My father and I are so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. He was best of friends with my father for over 40 years, and there will always be so many great memories our families smiling and laughing together. Having lost my mother recently I know this is hard, and I hope the pain can be less in time. I know he is in heaven now, and you will have years of wonderful memories with him.
Dear Norma, Bobby, and Keith,
So sorry to hear about Bob’s passing. I haven’t seen him in several years but can still remember the sound of his voice. A kind man, and a great story-teller.
Love,
Meghan Oberzan Glover
I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my dear Cousin Bob. As children growing up on Long Island we got to see each other quite often. We only lived about 8 miles apart. We are also very close in age. Later in life, my wife Polly and I always looked forward to Norma and Bob’s summer trip east when he came to Long Island to visit his parents and brother’s family. Bob and Norma wanted to visit all the presidential homes in the country. So on one visit the four of us went to FDR’s home in Hyde Park. When they left us they headed up river to Kinderhook to check in on Martin Van Buren! Our prayers to Norma and family Dick
Aunt Norma, Bobby and Keith,
I am deeply saddened by Uncle Bob’s passing. I can’t say anything about Uncle Bob that hasn’t already been said here; he was an extremely kind, generous, intelligent, modest man. His loss will be deeply felt. I hope you all take some comfort in the knowledge that Uncle Bob’s legacy will live on. He taught and mentored thousands of students who have gone on to teach and mentor others. He furthered the important fields of Education and Child Psychology through his teaching, research and books. He touched so many lives in positive ways. This tremendous legacy will live on.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, always.
Norma, Bobby & Keith,
I am so saddened to hear of Bob’s passing. So many memories of mine include his quick smile, dry wit and caring heart. I know that your hearts are broken, but hope that your memories will be a soothing balm in the difficult times. Please know we are keeping space for you in our hearts.
Keith, Joanna and family,
With sincere and heartfelt sympathy in the loss of Keith’s dad on Christmas Day.
My heart goes out to you as you grieve the loss of a loved one. I know you will deeply miss him. Blessings and peace to you all.
Dear Norma and family,
We were so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. While neither of us knew Bib extremely well, we always enjoyed his chats when he and Norma walked past our house to get their mail. His face always lit up when Jim engaged in a KU basketball conversation. And the smile….even when he began to get frail, there was always a smile and a few cheerful , positive words. We will miss him. Our prayers are with you all.
Dear Norma and family,
Sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. I have many happy memories of him. He was always such a nice person. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Pam Leinwetter.
Dear Norma, Bob, and Keith,
So sorry to hear the news. Bob was a fantastic person: funny, thoughtful and caring. I wish you peace and good wishes.
Dear Keith, Norma, and Bobby,
So sorry for your loss. Words cannot express the depth of kindness, caring, and compassion of your father and husband. He will never be forgotten by his students, friends, and loved ones.
Your friend,
Joyce Everhart
What a wonderful service for a man who lived his values his entire life. My condolences. Take comfort in a life we’ll lived.
Edith Palmberg
Dear Norma, Bob and Keith,
My deepest condolences to you all on the passing of a great father, husband, teacher, friend and person. I have so many wonderful memories of time spent at your house during childhood, ALWAYS being greeted by Dr. Hohn’s warmth, smile and passion for life. He made me feel so at home. When he was guest lecturer for our psychology class in high school, he started the day with a brief exercise that I have used in countless presentations to enhance people’s willingness to learn – what a great teacher he was. My heart aches along with all of you, and I hope you can navigate the difficult days ahead together, but know that we are all here for you.
Dear Norma,
You have my deepest condolences. I watched with great appreciation the lovely service today sponsored by the Warren McElwain Mortuary with your family participating. You and Bob have been such wonderful members of the Endacott Society and have meant so much to the KU community. I am thinking of you both and thanking God for your presence in our lives.
Sending hugs and love to our Kansas family. Bob was such a wonderful addition to our family. I always enjoyed our family time when you came for a visit. Having coffee and dessert at your mom and dad’s was precious. I always enjoyed talking education with Bob. We will miss him deeply. May God bless you and keep you safe. Love, Aunt Elaine
The on line service was very heart warming.
The Hohn family were the greatest neighbors. When we moved from Missouri to Lawrence with a full U-haul truck, two kids and a dog, Bob and Norma were the first to come over to help us unpack. From Boy Scouts to soccer we followed Bobby and Keith as good models for our sons. From Bob we learned about KU and Michigan State basketball and cowbells. Surrounded by the Hohns, Nelsons, Hacks, and Nyes we soon knew that moving to Kansas was a good choice. Our deepest thanks and condolences.
Dear Norma, Bobby and Keith, what a wonderful husband, father and friend Bob was. I will treasure our memories of friendship and our boys growing up together. Such a life well lived. Love to you all
Norma,
I’m so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. I enjoyed working with him at Audio-Reader— he was always so kind and invested in his volunteer work. Sending you love and caring during this difficult time.
Dear Norma,
We just learned of Bob’s passing and wish to send our condolences to all of you.
We hope the memories of all the years you had together can sustain you now, and in the future. He will be missed by so many people.
Warmest regards,
Bob & Lois Hanzlik
Dear Hohn Family,
I am so sorry to hear about Bob’s death. Both of you were always so kind and caring. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
To Dr. Hohn’s Family,
While I am only five years younger than Dr. Hohn, I was a doctoral student late in life and thus knew him as Dr. Hohn when he was my teacher in Educational Psychology; he wrote the excellent textbook we used! I also appreciated that he graciously agreed to serve on my dissertation committee. He retired before I finished in 2007 but while on my committee, his contributions were timely and helpful. He made a specific suggestion that enhanced my research and final dissertation. I remember him for his deep intellect, openness, and integrity as a teacher.
I send condolences for your loss of your husband, father, grandfather, and brother. Dr. Hohn was a wonderful teacher and person.
Sincerely,
Merrie Skaggs, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Baker University
Dear Norma , Bobby and Keith,
We hope that reading all these beautiful tribute to Bob makes your hearts happy and that they offer comfort at this very difficult time.
He was truly a man who was revered and loved by many for his caring heart, love of family, his quick and easy wit and his dedication to educating the hundreds of students who came his way.
Remembering him has brought many smiles to the people, who knew him as a relative, a neighbor, a friend and an teacher and he will live on in this way in their hearts. God Bless! Don, Sue, Jennifer and DJ.
I expect many of the current School of Education faculty may not have had the opportunity to interact with Bob. My opportunities were brief since he retired shortly after my arrival. And yet, during our brief overlap, Bob offered so much support. On this end, Bob represented the culture of the School. KU was not a place for competition but instead, collaboration. Bob and many of his peers, sought to support colleagues and for his part, he reached out to junior colleagues. On this end, it was simply a hello, how are you, where are you from, and the like. But even that brief greeting offered an open door. It led to multiple conversations on the history of the School, expectations, relationships with the neighboring districts, and so much more. Once he retired, I’d run into Bob at KU events but also simply at the library and other places around town. He was also thoughtful in his comments, willing to answer any questions, and simply be there as a colleague. Bob, amongst many of his peers, offered an inviting supportive professional that was much appreciated.
Bob was my first neighbor in JRP. Our offices were next to each other. He was a very lovely and kind person. He was so proud of his family. Sending heartfelt condolences to the Hohn family.
Bob always had a ready smile when I would see him on campus and I know all of you will miss that smile. I think back to when we all lived on Yellowstone Street decades ago and then crossing paths in Lawrence during the ensuing years. My deepest sympathies for your loss.
I was saddened to happen upon Dr. Hohn’s obituary. I am only one of the many graduate students who took his classes at KU during his tenure in the EPR department. I hope that I represent his students when I say, “Although it was only one class almost thirty years ago, I remember Dr. Hohn and that class he taught.”
Dear Norma,
I recently heard of Bob’s passing and wanted to send my sympathy. It is never an easy part of life, I’m sure. I always enjoyed seeing the two of you together….you clearly enjoyed one another! I hope life is falling into place for you and your family. Take care of yourself! Love, Deb Pentecost (from the old Quail Run days)