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BORN
1963
DIED
2022
Robert Houske Obituary
June 22, 2022
Kansas City, Missouri - Robert "Bob" Harold Houske, 58, of Kansas City, Missouri died at home on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 from complications of heart disease. Bob was born on October 27, 1963, to Harold and Betty (Johnson) Houske. Bob attended Shawnee Mission East High School, Westminster College and UMKC Law School.
He is predeased by his parents and a brother, James Houske. He is survived by his daughter, Hannah Houske of Prairie Village, siblings Richard and Suzanne Houske Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden, and aunt Mary Jane Weisbecker, Madison, South Dakota.
Bob graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, School of Law in 1989. He passed both the Missouri and Kansas bar exams and maintained licenses in both states throughout his 33-year legal career. He began his legal career as an associate in the Kansas City office of Brown & James, P.C. At Brown & James, he tried many cases to jury verdict and developed a specialty in defending first-party insurance claims. In 1996, he left Brown & James and co-founded Houske & Rollins, P.C. where he developed a successful practice representing individuals and families in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. In 2007, Bob became "of counsel" to Foland, Wickens, Roper, Hofer & Crawford, P.C. There Bob was involved in a number of high-profile cases including a breach of contract case that resulted in a $12.5 million dollar jury verdict for his client against O'Reilly Automotive in a claim related to the "Oh, Oh, Oh, O'Reilly" advertising jingle. The verdict was one of the largest jury verdicts in Missouri in 2017. Bob retired from Foland, Wickens in the Spring of 2022 with a plan of returning to his family home in South Dakota to provide general legal assistance to the indigenous people in the region. Among his colleagues, Bob was known for his ability to unravel complex legal issues and formulate strategies to resolve them successfully for his clients.
The Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 8, 2022 at 10:00 am with visitation at 9 am at Visitation Catholic Church 5141 Main, KC, MO 64112.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to KC Pet Project.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Robert Houske
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2 Entries
Leslie F Mengel
July 11, 2022
Bob was a brother. Dana and I met him several years ago at the Chaz, and have seen him weekly ever since. The most endearing thing about him was his devotion to his family. He always wanted us to play ABBA - it reminded him of family in Stockholm. Hannah was also mentioned, along with other family members, Astrid, Phillip and Johnathan, among others. I'm sorry I didn't make the service for Bob but was hoping I could see it online. Anyway, I really hoped to see his family and am overjoyed to see this is possible this Sunday.
As some of you know, Bob brought the Stockholm clan to chaz right at closing time a couple of years ago. Dana and I had just played five hours without breaks and were exhausted. Bob asked how much it would cost to play another half hour concert just for his family. First we had to get permission from the hotel. We knew we couldn't let him, and his family down, so we said, how about twenty-five dollars - he handed us a check for one thousand dollars. (Do you see why we call him a brother.) It meant that much to him to entertain his family!
I also loved his slightly irreverent tendency, when after we had just played a somewhat sad song, and we would turn to him to ask what he would like to hear - Britney Spears, he sometimes would retort.
Words to a grieving family seem so superfluous at time like this. Experience has taught me only time can help ease the pain.
Bob will be missed by all who knew his kindness, generosity, and fierce loyalty, But I know Bob would rather we celebrate his life, rather and mourn. I believe we are not 'bodies with spirits' - 'but spirits with bodies.' In that sense, little has changed - and he is as much with us as ever. Look forward to the celebration Sunday. Peace
Les Mengel/ cellist
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Gregory Gordon
June 30, 2022
Was a pleasure working with Bob.
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