Robert L. Gengler

Robert Leo Gengler (Bob) was born June 27, 1930 in the Gengler family farmhouse north of Beloit, Kansas, where he lived for all but a few of his eighty years. Bob was the seventh of nine children born to Felix and Gertrude (Wessling) Gengler. He attended Plum Creek Township Country School through the eighth grade and if asked where he went to school he would proudly declare he was a graduate of "PCU" (Plum Creek University). After earning his degree from PCU, Bob worked on the family farm and traveled with custom wheat harvesting crews before working several years as a soil conservation construction builder in the Beloit area. He could often be seen atop the D6 Caterpillar building waterways, terraces and ponds. Bob's love for this work continued when farming and livestock operations became his full-time occupation. He was a true steward of the land he farmed and worked tirelessly to preserve it through numerous soil conservation projects, earning the Mitchell County Soil Conservation and Windbreak awards. Bob also worked to promote the well-being of the farming community as a long-time active member and former officer of the National Farmers Organization (NFO), participating in many events at the local, state and national level. Bob served on the Plum Creek Township and Rural Water District Boards for many years and many benefitted from his ingenuity in many fields, possessing the ability to fix and repair countless items in his shop. A proud citizen of the United States of America, Bob served his country in the United States Army and reserves, receiving an honorable discharge at the rank of Corporal.
Bob was united in marriage to Lois Marie Schmitt on September 26, 1959 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Tipton, Kansas and was blessed to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary in September of 2009. To this union were born six boys. A man of strong, quiet faith, Bob was a life-long member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, and was an avid servant and supporter of the parish, serving on numerous committees over the years and lending his talents to the repair and preservation of the church, schools and other buildings. He was a Lifetime Member of the Knights of Columbus in which he achieved 4th degree member status.
Those acquainted with Bob in his younger years have often told his sons of his nearly superhuman feats of strength exhibited in those years, whether it be numerous pairs of pliers broken by his vise-like grip, cars lifted without mechanical aid, or a host of other similar events that might be found only in storybooks. Despite such physical strength, Bob possessed a quiet demeanor, leading by steady example rather than loud words and showing an even more powerful inner strength that allowed him to withstand great physical challenges in his later years with quiet suffering, seldom complaining about the aches and pains that years of physical labor had inflicted on his body. Bob's grandchildren were his pride and joy in his later years. This strong man loved to watch little children play and never missed an opportunity to tease them with his witty personality. Polka music was his favorite, as his boys can attest to through the many Sunday morning trips to church with Polka music playing on the car radio, and a card game with the guys at the K of C hall was always welcome. Family history was also a key area of interest for Bob. If you lived in a city or town he visited, your last name was Gengler, and you were listed in the phone book, you probably got a call from Bob Gengler wondering how the two of you might be related.
Bob departed this earth on July 14, 2010 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, Kansas. He was preceded in death by sisters Dorothy (who died as an infant) and Christine Kadel, and his brothers Harold, Walter, Raymond and Melvin. Bob will be deeply missed by his loving wife Lois of the home, his sister Helen Moxter and husband Lawrence of Ellsworth, KS, sister Mary Lange and husband Jim of Beloit, his six sons Craig (and wife Jolene) of Beloit, Galen of Beloit, Randy (and wife Tamra) of Lawrence, KS, Dean (and wife Amy) of Beloit, Dale (and fiancé Janet) of Beloit and Scott (and wife Crystal) of Falun, KS, fourteen grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and many other family members and friends.

A funeral mass will be at 10:00 AM Saturday, July 17 at St. John's Catholic Church in Beloit. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Friday at the McDonald Funeral Home, and a rosary service will be at 7:00 PM Friday at the Church. Memorials may be given to the Cornerstone Foundation or the St. John's Heating & Air Conditioning Project.