Robert Wallerstedt

BANKER, CIVIC LEADER Robert W. Wallerstedt, 76, retired banker, former State Republican Chairman, one time St. Mary's Hospital board member, died May 7, 2005, of sepsis pneumonia complications at Kindred Hospital. Upon first coming on the Kansas City financial scene in the late 1960's, he took a leading role energizing local banking interests to coordinate resources in advancing civic development undertakings and overall community objectives. As first President and CEO of Columbia Union National Bank and Trust Co., a 1970 merger of two middlesized banks-he led metropolitan area efforts to widen the spectrum of specialized bank services available to the Kansas City trade area and to induce other financial institutions to bring outside money into the Kansas City market. Appointed by Mayor Ilus W. Davis as Chairman of the Area-Wide Information Committee of the Area Transportation Authority, he was a leader in the effort to harness the business community to promote financial and political support for declining transportation services. He was also Promotional Committee Chairman of Downtown, Inc. He was an early promoter of bank "kiosk" stations to ease customer access to main bank services. Another community service he led as bank president was "Operational Identification," an anti-theft strategy featuring the provision to neighborhood residents with stamping devices to identify ownership of valuables. During his tenure at Columbia Union, he established the "Independent Thinkers Scholarship Fund" and was president of the Young Presidents Organization, Inc. After leaving Columbia Union in the early 1980's, he became President of the investment banking firm of McLiney and Co. and subsequently undertook developing finance packages for nationwide day-care syndicates, retiring in the mid1990's. In retirement he worked part time for United Way. He started his career in finance in 1954 with the General Electric Co., advancing to the role of Regional Manager at the General Electric Credit Corporation. Subsequently, he joined the J.I. Case Credit Corporation as its President. His career in the commercial area of banking began in 1964 as president of two Chicago banksMetropolitan Bank and Trust Co. and Amalgamated Trust and Savings. During the Korean War, he served as a commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard, continuing in the Reserves for a dozen years and attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. A native Kansas Citian, who grew up in Redemptorist Parish, and a graduate of Rockhurst High School (1945) and Rockhurst College (1949), he earned a Masters degree from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He was a member of both the Carriage Club and the Kansas City Club, and was a parishioner of the Visitation Catholic Church. He is survived by three daughtersMaureen, Erin, and Laurel; two grandsons and two granddaughters; sister Mary Ann Schwab; and brother John F. Wallerstedt, Jr. He is also survived by brother-in-law Daniel Gilbert; two sisters-in-law, Rita Wallerstedt and Patricia Rotolo; and many nephews and nieces. He was the son of the late John F. and Mary F. Wallerstedt, and brother of the late Charles Wallerstedt, James Wallerstedt, and Patricia Gilbert. His outstanding intellect, wit, charm, integrity, and compassion will not be forgotten. Mass of Christian Burial will be at Visitation Catholic Church, 5141 Main St., KCMO, 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 11, 2005. Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Friends may call at Muehlebach Funeral Home, 6800 Troost Ave., KCMO, from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, 2005, where the Rosary will be said at 4 p.m. (Arr. Muehlebach Funeral Home, 816-444-2060)