Bob Seibel, Hillsboro
Bob Seibel Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information (jostfuneralhome.com)
March 9, 1935 - October 25, 2021
Hillsboro - Bob Seibel, 86, passed away October 25, 2021 at Salem Home in Hillsboro. He was born March 9, 1935 in Newton to Andrew and Clara (Wittmeyer) Seibel. He married Betty Friesen April 7, 1958 at Parkview Church in Hillsboro.
Life Sketch Taken from the Funeral Bulletin
Robert George (Bob) Seibel was born March 9, 1935 to Andrew and Clara Seibel of rural Marion County, Kansas. Weighing 4 lb. 9 oz. at birth, his little body was reduced to less than 4 lb. in a time when many that small did not survive. He later welcomed a sister, Joyce. A foster brother, Jim Swogger, completed the family.
Bob received his elementary education at the Thorp and Aulne Grade Schools and graduated from Marion High School.
As a youngster he often amused himself by taking his or his sister’s toys apart and putting them back together with amazing accuracy. He helped hoe the big potato patch, often walked to the pasture to get the cows and helped milk them morning and evening. He fed the hogs and poured out the chicken’s water at night in the winter so it wouldn’t freeze. He always enjoyed helping load bundles of grain together with neighbors at threshing time. When he was older and they quit farming with horses, he drove the tractor, plowing, cultivating, combining, etc. When he was given a job to do, he did it responsibly. He had pride in his work.
Bob’s best friend growing up was always his dog. He spent many hours with him and even made a harness for his dog so he could pull a wagon, often hauling firewood to the house after school. Bob would make box traps to catch rabbits, walking 1 ½ miles before school to check his traps. He sold the rabbits for 15 cents undressed or 25 cents dressed, finally saving up enough money to buy a football.
In his early teenage years, Bob accepted Christ as his personal savior during a series of revival meetings at the Aulne Methodist Church of which he became a member until 1958 when his membership was transferred to the Parkview Church. He was very active in the Parkview Church serving on the board of trustees for many years, which he greatly enjoyed. He drew the initial design which eventually became the north Sunday school wing and activity center addition. He spent many volunteer hours landscaping and keeping the church grounds beautiful.
Following graduation from high school in 1953 Bob began what would be the start of a lifelong career. Although he excelled in math, academics were not his strong point but “common sense” served him well. He worked as a machinist at Paramount Products in Peabody with a starting wage of $1.05 per hour and while working there was chosen to receive post-high school education in his field from the Boeing Company.
In 1960 he began work at Hesston Corporation as a tool and die maker, later becoming a tool designer. In 1979 he became a partner in Marion Die and Fixture as a tooling engineer and was head of design, sales and purchasing. He also enjoyed serving on the advisory board of the Newton Vo-Tech School.
In July of 1957 Bob met a young Hillsboro girl, Betty Friesen, who was working at the Dari-Ette. Their swift courtship began and they were engaged in October and got married in the Parkview Church on April 7, 1958. Bob and Betty were blessed with three children, Mark in 1963, Tonja in 1965 and Doug in 1967. The family’s favorite vacation location was Colorado and they created many wonderful memories during the years the family was growing up.
Bob retired from Marion Die and Fixture at the end of 1999 and he and Betty began a 15-year career as tour directors for Prudent Tours, directing a total of 75 tours throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. They also traveled extensively to foreign countries in order to visit family. These two travel opportunities and several cruises resulted in allowing them to visit all 50 states and a total of 18 foreign countries. One of Bob’s greatest joys in retirement was spending time with his two grandchildren, Kristen and Andrew when they would come for part of the summers while growing up. He loved taking them fishing, building stilts for them, flying kites or just playing in the back yard.
On October 6, 2021, he was diagnosed with a massive sub-dural hematoma and his life drastically changed. Following a brief stay in the excellent care of the staff at Salem Home, he peacefully left this life to enter his new life in heaven very early Monday, October 25, 2021. His wife, Betty and sister, Joyce were at his side.
Preceding him in death are his parents Andrew and Clara Seibel, foster brother James Swagger, and brother-in-law LaVern Funk.
His loving family includes wife, Betty of Hillsboro; son Mark and wife, Patty Seibel of Ashville, North Carolina and their children: Kristen and husband, Michael Buck of Greensboro, North Carolina and Andrew Seibel of Raleigh, North Carolina; daughter Tonja and husband, Michael Nansel of Rockville, Maryland; son Doug and wife, Barbara Seibel of Greenville, South Carolina; and sister Joyce Funk of Hillsboro.
Celebration of Life service 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 1, 2021 at Parkview M.B. Church in Hillsboro. Committal service at Gnadenau Cemetery, rural Hillsboro. Family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro.
Memorials to Operation Smile in care of Jost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 266, Hillsboro, KS 67063.
Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com.
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