Robert Henry Wendt, 75, Gardner, Kansas passed away Tuesday, April 20, 2022 at his home.  A Memorial Service  will be held 10:00 am Saturday, April 30, 2022 at Fellowship Bible Church, 16900 South Waverly Road, Gardner, Kansas. Inurnment follows at 3:00 pm at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Laredo, Missouri.  Memorial contributions may be made to Harbor Hospice, Overland Park, Kansas or Fellowship Bible Church, Gardner, Kansas.  Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.comRobert

Robert Henry Wendt was born in Trenton, Missouri to Henry and Eilene (Baird) Wendt on August 7, 1946 and passed away on April 20, 2022 due to complications of progressive lung disease. Bob learned how to work hard growing up.  He caught and shot food for the family and chopped wood for heat.  He loved working for neighboring farmers who appreciated his work ethic and he enjoyed their good food. Bob graduated from Princeton High School in 1965 and from Northeast Missouri State (now Truman State) in 1970.  He then was inducted into the Army and served in Germany. After his discharge he joined Farm Bureau in Lincoln, Illinois and later in Champaign, Illinois where he was a county farmer organizer and lobbyist, winning many yearly state awards for farmer retention and new members.  Enduring the tragic deaths of 3 younger siblings during his childhood, Bob developed a natural deep love for all children.  Throughout his many years in Champaign, he continually ran a bus route for his church, always eager to bring all children, of any race, to the Lord.

Taking early retirement, Bob returned to Princeton, Missouri where he farmed and raised cattle.  His love for children prevailed when in December, 2008 he married a recent widow with 7 children aged 14 and under, Charis Carpenter Stubbs. Their mutual love for God and children was the guiding force in their years together taking them to Fort Dodge, Iowa and then to Ottawa, Kansas where Bob spent several years touching lives as a real estate agent, while being involved in bus ministry, visitation and teaching a Sunday School class.  Two years ago, after battling severe pneumonia, he and Charis moved to Gardner, Kansas. Bob loved God, children, and fishing.  His motto was, “A bad day fishing is better than doing anything else.”  For may years every spring and fall he helped his friends, Steve and Chuck in Minnesota with putting in and taking out the docks.  His sister, Audrey and daughter, Rachel were frequent fishing buddies.

Bob never knew a stranger.  He connected with every person he met.  He enjoyed visiting with others and especially sharing his love of his Lord Jesus Christ.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents,  Henry and Eilene;  brothers: Lawson and Andrew; sisters:  Viola Jean, Helen and Donna.  He is survived by his wife, Charis, of the home; his dear sister, Audrey Anderson, Kirksville, Missouri. and loving brother Frank (Nancy) Wendt, Shawnee, Kansas; his daughters:  Lisa (Tim) Young of Champaign, Illinois, Kelli Wendt of Champaign, Illinois; the children he raised: Rachel (Brenden) Hirt of Garnett, Kansas, Sam Stubbs of Lawrence, Kansas, George Stubbs of Ottawa, Kansas, Joe Stubbs of Lawrence, Kansas, Dinah (Trey) Heneha of Hutchinson, Kansas, and Julia (Nate) Heneha of Burrton, Kansas, and by Charis’s children, Brock (Kara) Stubbs of Gardner, Kansas, Jordan (Josh) Seymour of Nederland, Texas, Cass (Carissa) Stubbs of Grinnell, Iowa, and David Stubbs of Marengo, Iowa; 22 beloved grandchildren and one sweet great-granddaughter.