Robert Bigsby
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Celebration of Life services for Robert Richards Bigsby, 84, Lawrence will be held at 3:30PM Thursday, November 4, 2010 at Stony Point Hall, 1514 N 600th Road Baldwin City, KS 66006. For directions see www.stonypointhall.com. Private inurnment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence.
Mr. Bigsby died October 29, 2010 at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, KS.
He was born April 22, 1926 in Lawrence, Kansas the son of Ambrose and Esther Erma (Richards) Bigsby.
He was a lifelong dairyman and farmer and a resident of Douglas County. He lived on the family farm south of Lawrence for 53 years.
Mr. Bigsby was a 1943 graduate of Liberty Memorial high school and received the Kiwanis National Award for being the High School Student that did the most toward the war effort, farming 190 acres and raising 500 head of Sheep. He received the FFA Star Farmer Award in 1942. He was a dairy project leader for Vinland Valley 4-H for a number of years. The family also received the Douglas County 4-H family of the year award in 1970. The Bigsby Family together had over 90 years of participation with the Douglas Co. 4-H program. He served on the Kansas Board of Directors for the Kansas Holstein Association for a number of years where he received the Kansas Holstein Honorary Lifetime Award in September 2000. He was also a founding committee member of the Douglas County Rural Water District #2 and served on the water board for many years.
Robert & Dorothy loved to travel to Texas & Mexico most winters after they retired from farming. They always enjoyed being home for the holidays with their family.
He married Dorothy Jean Henderson on January 23, 1945 in Lawrence, Kansas. She preceded him in death on May 23, 2008.
Survivors include two daughters, Karen Finstad of Lenexa, KS and Carol Keen of Baldwin City, KS; one son, Robert Jr. of Baldwin City, KS; one brother, Harold Bigsby, Fort Worth, TX; four grandchildren, Patrick Hurley, Marci Werne, Kalli Ehrhardt & Quinton Keen and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Helen Elizabeth Schafer.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Douglas County 4-H Foundation and may be sent in care of the Warren-McElwain Mortuary.
I enjoyed running into Robert during different times of my life. He was always full of energy and passion. My thought are with all family, take care of each other.
I first met Bob at the fairs, and I believe Karen was showing for the first time. My best wishes to all the family. Wish I could attend the service, but have a trip to Calif. scheduled
Karen, Carol, and Bobby, Our prayers are with you at this time. It is hard loosing a parent. Mr. B will always have a special place in our hearts.
I used to do work on Bob’s farm fences on occaision with my late Father-in-Law, Wayne Parks. I enjoyed Bob’s friendly and candid personality and sense of humor. It was always nice to see him and visit with him and Dorothy. My prayers and best wishes go out to his family.
I first met Bob at the fairs, and I believe Karen was showing for the first time. My best wishes to all the family. Wish I could attend the service, but have a trip to Calif. scheduled
I used to do work on Bob’s farm fences on occaision with my late Father-in-Law, Wayne Parks. I enjoyed Bob’s friendly and candid personality and sense of humor. It was always nice to see him and visit with him and Dorothy. My prayers and best wishes go out to his family.
I remember your dad well from the Douglas County fairs! What a funny, kind man! My heart goes out to the entire Bigsby family! We are now losing our best of the best.