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Obituary- Harden, Robert 2

BOB HARDEN
Bob was born in Meriden, to Orval and Goldie Lister Harden, the fifth of eight children.

The family moved several times during the Depression years, living near Dover, St. Marys and Rossville. He started school early and was for his entire life a proponent of education.

He also started his working life early, beginning with a paper route in Rossville. Frequently, he worked for local farmers and on one occasion nearly lost his arm in a corn picker accident. In later years, on his own farm, he often could be found hoeing weeds in the soybeans or sweet corn patch.

For 42 years he was devoted to working for Hallmark Cards at both the Topeka and Lawrence plants. He started in cutting and gradually worked into the area of management. After retirement, he assisted with Hallmark’s traveling Kaleidoscope exhibit.

He was innovative no matter the challenge. Tornados have struck the home place west of Rossville twice. In May of 1960, on his way home from work, Bob was only a mile from home as he watched a twister destroy the farm. He arrived home just as his family was being helped from the cellar. A new home soon stood on that much altered farm site.

Every addition, remodeling project or repair on any of the families’ homes has signs of his work. His example has been passed on in a can- do attitude in his children and grandchildren.

His family, wife, Marie and five children, Michelle (Crisler), Doug, Darrel, Joyce, (Abernathy) and Andrea (Terry) were always at the top of his priorities and the reason he worked so hard. Family life also included time for play: camping and water skiing, fishing at the pond, coaching both softball and baseball teams.

For his own personal health, he became a runner during middle age beginning by running in place in the kitchen, then laps in the basement and finally taking to the gravel roads bordering the farm. He participated in the Topeka Tin Man competitions and completed several half marathons.

In retirement, he and Marie traveled frequently and spent many winter months at South Padre Island, often including children and grandchildren.

He will be missed by family and friends, but happily, lives on in our memories.

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