Robert Hersom

December 22, 1946 - June 27, 2011 OKLAHOMA CITY Bob Hersom rose to the Heaven's on June 27, 2011, as the loves of his life, wife Cathy, son Robbie and daughter-in-law Kristin, and daughter Katie and son-in-law Blake Middleton, stood beside him. Born December 22, 1946, to Evelyn Olson Hersom and Robert William Hersom in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bob graduated from Washington High School in 1966 and served in the US Army in Vietnam. He married Cathy McNamara on November 25, 1978, and born to this union were a son, Robert (Robbie) John, and a daughter, Katharine (Katie) Helene Hersom Middleton. There are no words to describe the love and devotion he felt for his children. Bob attended college in Iowa, where he studied English and the written word, which he would pursue his entire life. Whether it was writing a sports story for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the Oklahoma Journal, the Oklahoma Times or The Daily Oklahoman, writing a letter to his parents from Vietnam, Keokuk, Emmetsburg or Oklahoma City, writing a note filled with sentiment and unconditional love to one of his children, or sharing with Cathy an event he covered by leaving her a detailed, blow by blow report on the kitchen counter - all these special Dad and Bob touches will be missed. He retired in October 2008 after 28 years at The Oklahoman, and continued covering sports as a freelance writer for the Oklahoma RedHawks and the Oklahoma City Barons. A member of the Football Writers of America, Bob loved reporting sports news. Twice voted Oklahoma Sportswriter of the Year by his peers, he was admired for his encyclopedic knowledge on each beat he covered. Bob especially loved baseball - the Oklahoma RedHawks and the Chicago Cubs. He leaves a legacy of laughter, honesty and integrity. Most important to him was his family, who survive him with broken hearts - his wife of 32 years Cathy, son Robbie and wife Kristin, daughter Katie and husband Blake Middleton, all of Oklahoma City, mother Evelyn Hersom and brother Tom Hersom of Cedar Rapids, IA, brother Terry Hersom and wife Linda of Sioux City, IA, sister Heidi and husband Mike Kearney of Richfield, MN, brother-in-law Mike McNamara and wife Carol of Jacksonville, FL, and most importantly his namesake, grandson Robert Cole Hersom, who will arrive in September. He is preceded in death by his father Robert William Hersom and in-laws Jack and Helen McNamara. A Memorial Service will be held at Church of the Servant, where Bob worshipped with his family, 14343 N. MacArthur, Oklahoma City, on Thursday, June 30, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. Friends and family are invited to a reception following the service in the Community Hall. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to: Church of the Servant Children's Ministries, 14343 N. MacArthur Blvd., OKC 73142, Northside YMCA, 10000 N. Pennsylvania Ave., OKC 73120, or Putnam City Schools Foundation, 5401 NW 40, OKC 73122. Bob died from non-alcoholic cirrhosis while awaiting a liver transplant, for which he, his family and a host of friends prayed diligently. The family would like to thank Dr. John Duffy and the 7th floor ICU staff at Integris Baptist Medical Center for taking such wonderful care of Bob. They cried with us on Monday.