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BORN
1930
DIED
2023
Robert Karpe Obituary
November 3, 1930 October 31, 2023
Robert (Bob) W Karpe, 92 passed away on October 31, 2023, at 13115 Hinault Drive in Bakersfield, California. He was born on November 3, 1930, in Bakersfield, California to Elmer F. and Florence A. Karpe.
Bob graduated from Bakersfield High School in 1949 and went on to receive a B.S. degree in Business Administration from UC Berkeley as Valedictorian of his class. He succeeded his father as owner of Elmer F. Karpe, Inc. until, then Gov. Ronald Reagan, appointed him as Real Estate Commissioner for the State of California and later, as President of the U.S., appointed him President of the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA).
Bob married Phyllis Henning in 1956 in Bakersfield, California. They were happily married for 35 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church, serving in various capacities, as well as in many other realty and civic organizations. He enjoyed football and played in the Rose Bowl in 1950 and 1951.
Bob is survived by his children, Robert L Karpe, Kamath, Idaho; Sandra Higgins, Alexander, Virginia; and Raymond E Karpe, Bakersfield, California; his grandsons, John Z. Karpe, Idaho; Robert Kenneth Karpe, Tucson, Arizona; and Adam Jacob Karpe, Columbus, South Carolina; and many nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his father Elmer F Karpe, mother Florence Johnson Karpe; sisters, Jane Harding and Margaret Karpe; and brothers, Leland Elmer Karpe and George Calvin Karpe.
A private graveside service was held at 10 A.M., November 14, 2023, at Historic Union Cemetery, 730 Potomac Ave., Bakersfield, CA93307 in the Garden of Memory off South King St.
www.bakersfield.com/obits
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Memories and Condolences
for Robert Karpe
2 Entries
Gary Tribble
November 16, 2023
Im sorry to see your loss. Its family time just to remember all the good times. Rob and Sandy I'm sorry to see your loss. Just remember all the good time helps heal. Gary T
Mike Cheatham
November 14, 2023
So sorry to learn of Mr. Karpe´s passing. Bob and my father in law (Don Johnson), we´re life long friends and played football together at Cal. Don always said Bob was one of the toughest players he´d ever seen. No doubt Bob´s football career would have been just as accomplished in the pro´s as it was in college had he not suffered a devastating knee injury. When Karpe Real Estate began building homes, I was fortunate enough to be one of their many subcontractors for many years. When Bob learned I was Don´s son in law, whenever I was in their office, he would holler across the entire office and say, when you´re done with your business let´s talk football in my office! Mr. Karpe was a true gentleman. Heaven has a good one!
Mike & Pam Cheatham
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