Robert English Grassberger, 81, passed away April 25, 2014, in Clearwater, Fla. He was born Jan. 29, 1933, in Kansas City, Mo., to Milford and Wilma Grassberger. Bob grew up in Roland Park, Kan., attended Roesland Grade School, and graduated from Shawnee Mission High School in 1951. He was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force in 1956. As a cadet, Bob met Diane Hoehn. They married on June 6, 1956, and were happily married for 51 years until Diane's passing in 2007. Bob was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. His Air Force career spanned over 20 years and included teaching at the Air Force Academy from 1965 to 1971. He retired from active duty as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1977. Upon retirement, he and Diane moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he was employed by the BDM Corporation, then as an instructor in mechanical engineering at the University of New Mexico. He attended Holyrood Seminary in Liberty, New York, and was ordained in 1986. Father Bob pastored St. Athanasius Anglican Catholic Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., from 1986 to 1998. Bob and Diane retired to Florida in 1999. Bob is survived by his sister, Sally Stokes Merryfield of Lenexa, Kan., his four children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Burial will be at the Air Force Academy Cemetery. www.HubbellFuneralHome.com
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5 Entries
Peggy Bodine
May 11, 2014
I am grateful for the life of Mr. Grassberger. Thanks to his service and to the service of others in our armed forces, my family and I have been able to lead our lives in freedom and peace.
Bob
May 6, 2014
What a gift he was to you! And what a gift that you are to us.
Paula Wallace, Omaha.
Paula Wallace
May 5, 2014
We will miss you ! Love, Charlotte and Matt Biggs
Charlotte Biggs
May 4, 2014
I am sorry to here about Robert's death. While I lived right down the street from Bob in Roeland Park, I did not ever really know Bob as I was 6 years younger. I did know Bob's dad very well, as he and my father were involved in local politics and on occasion vacationed together. My father was Dick Hampton and lived just No. of the Grassberger home on Southridge Drive. I do remember how proud Bob's dad was of his son....I wish I would have known him better.
Richard E. Hampton
Pagosa Springs, CO
May 4, 2014
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