Robert A. Seger: UPDATE

Robert Allan Seger

July 10, 1925 – June 17, 2013

Johnson, Kansas

Visitation: 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Friday, June 21, 2013 at Garnand Funeral Home and Saturday, June 22, 2013 from 8:00 AM until 9:00 AM , at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Funeral Service: 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ulysses, Kansas.

Interment: Ulysses Cemetery in Ulysses, Kansas with military rites conducted by Dexter D. Harbour American Legion Post #79.

Memorials may be made to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Aid in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880.

Robert Allan Seger, 87, beloved father, grandfather, great- grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away on Monday morning, June 17, 2013, while driving home from Rexburg, Idaho, in an accident near Julesburg, Colorado.

Together Again and Forever! Robert was preceded in death just this last January 12, 2013, by his beloved wife and sweetheart, Ethel Ruth Michael Seger. They are together again – never to be separated for eternity. Bob and Ruth’s marriage was sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 13, 1958. Robert Allan Seger could hardly wait to get to earth being born prematurely weighing only about five pounds. He was born on July 10, 1925, at home in the Englewood house which was southeast of Meade—Sand Creek Township Meade County, Kansas. His mother said it was the “hottest day there ever was” and the doctor came some 40 miles from Plains with horse and buggy. Around the Meade and Plains area, Robert or ‘Bob’ as he is known most places today, was known as ‘Bobby.’ Bob’s dad was a rancher. Bob also took to the animals, but his real love came out when his parents moved to another ranch when he was a youngster and there was an old Rumley Oil Pull tractor there. Little Bobby liked to tinker with it, and one time he literally tore it to pieces. That was the ONLY spanking he could remember receiving from his dad. Later, Bobby’s father would leave him alone to do his thing with the machines because he hated machinery. His father’s love was animals and he could tame and gentle anything. Bob inherited this quality, too. Bob and his younger sister and brother attended all Plains schools. He said that they rode a bus which was ‘an old 1930 Chevrolet truck with a kind of outhouse style cab on it.’

Bobby graduated from Plains High School on May 18, 1943. He had worked for Wolfe Motor Company in Meade, Kansas, and continued to until he was drafted on his eighteenth birthday, July 10 and entered World War II service on November 3 in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Fort Sill, Oklahoma, is where he was sent for basic training. The aptitude tests taken at Ft. Leavenworth were suppose to be used to help assign privates to what they were best suited for. Bob said, “I wanted to be in motor mechanics, but when I went to Ft. Sill, I was assigned to Cook School. I was very, very unhappy. (sigh) I thought my world had completely caved in on me. That was the last place I wanted to be. I couldn’t feature me being a cook! I thought that was the worst way I could serve my country.” He knew his aptitude tests indicated very high in mechanics. In the middle of the very first night, a Sarge told Bob to get his duffle bag packed. Bob remembers, “I didn’t know where they were moving me, but I thought it couldn’t be any worse and that it was still better to move. Well, miracles do happen! I was being transferred to motor truck training Field Artillery School (FAS) motor mechanics and basic training combined. This was very precise training for truck mechanics. It was very valuable to me throughout my whole life. I couldn’t have been happier. Then….I was is my glory!” When the war was over, Bob returned to Wolfe Motor Company and met his sweetheart, Ethel Ruth Michael. Bob married Ruth on August 6, 1950, in Meade, Meade County, Kansas. This year they will celebrate their 63rd Anniversary in heaven-never being separated on their anniversaries before or forever. Bob’s greatest love was for his wife, Ruth, and his family. He loved farming and moved to the farm in Stanton County in 1953. He was involved in church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and community activities. He served in 4-H, Extension, and many farm related and antique tractor organizations. His hobbies of flying and restoring antique tractors, combines, and engines was a great pleasure for him, but didn’t take away from his family, instead enveloped them in the fun and appreciation. All of Bob’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren think they are each his favorite!

Robert is survived by eight children and their spouses, Karen (Fred) Clyde of Hurricane, Utah; Bobbie Lewis, Cheryl (Ron) Hale, and Robert (Sandi) Seger of Johnson, Kansas; Kathy (Mel) Mortensen of Rexburg, Idaho; and Earl (Charla) Seger, Merl (Leasa) Seger of Ulysses; and Verl (Lori) Seger of Richmond, Texas; 45 grandchildren; and 77 (+ one due in July 2013) great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Baskin of Liberal, Kansas. Robert was preceded in death by his son, Mark Allan Seger, in February 1954; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; parents, Allan Edward Seger and Rhoda Basinger Seger; and one brother, Ralph Gordon Seger.