Robert H Thornburgh

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Obituary- Thornburgh, Robert

Robert H. Thornburgh
HIAWATHA-Robert H. Thornburgh was born December 4,1934, at Nortonville, Kansas, one of four children of Hall and Geneva Reeves Thornburgh. He passed away at the Hiawatha Community Hospital, Wednesday afternoon, November 30, 2011, at the age of 76.

After Nortonville High School and Baker University, Bob obtained his pharmacy degree and then his law degree from Kansas University. While at Baker during Pharmacy School, Bob served as student pastor for United Methodist Churches, first at Reserve and Morrill, and then at Effingham, Muscotah, and Monrovia.

Bob was a Mason, a Methodist, the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, a certified Dale Carnegie instructor, volunteering to teach dozens of classes at the U.S. Army disciplinary barracks at Ft. Leavenworth during the Vietnam War. He also was a Gideon, taught business law at Johnson County Community College, was a Barbershop per, and fast pitch softball pitcher who led his fraternity to the inter-fraternity Hill Championship at Kansas University. Bob was also a member of the Brown County Bar Association; NEK Bar Association; Kansas Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association.

Although never married, Bob helped to raise two young ladies that were very special to him, Shannon and Sharlyn, who survive. Bob is also survived by a brother, Stan (Polly) Thornburgh of Topeka, their children: Jeri (Tim) Eckhardt of Topeka, Kim (Randy) Lesseski, also of Topeka; a sister Leda (Bill) Smith of Hiawatha, their children: Kevin Wayne Smith of Hiawatha, Lyn- nette (Scott) Wenger of Rossville, Shawn (Sara) Smith of Hia¬watha; Don's children include Jeff (Ann) Thornburgh of Kansas City, and Jerry (Linda) Thornburgh of Topeka; and numerous great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother Don.
Bob was blessed to enjoy a wonderful family, fraternity brothers, colleagues and friends. At his request, Bob was cremated with a celebration of Bob's life will be held later in the month.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested First United Methodist Church of Hiawatha; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; or Multiple Sclerosis Society which may be sent in care of the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha, KS 66434.
A special message may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com.