Robert E Stauffer

Some of Bob Stauffer’s earliest memories include chilly early morning milkings, chasing rabbits through fields with his 4 pups and ornery classroom antics involving creek crawdads at “Number 6” in his hometown of Lawrence, Kansas.

The second of four children born to farm family George and Bonnie Stauffer, Bobby’s youthful curiosity often got him into a pickle. Running his arm through a washing wringer at age 3, getting his pointer finger sliced off (and then crudely sewn back on) when riding the back of a plow at age 5 and almost drowning in a country pond when he hadn’t yet learned to swim, he was blessed to make it out of his youth.

That vigor translated to teen athletic pursuits as a running back at Lawrence High School, scoring 4 touchdowns vs. Manhattan High his senior year and as the center fielder on their baseball team. After just a year as a walk-on in both sports at Kansas State University, Bob returned home to help with the farm after his father’s untimely death.

He soon returned to the campus but transferred to the College of Emporia where he successfully competed in both sports and met his future bride, Marianne Schertz. Upon graduating with a bachelors in business education, he served in the National Guard, especially enjoying a stint at Fort Ord in California.

After his marriage to Marianne in June 1960, they both took one-year teaching jobs in Enterprise, Kansas, where Bob served as the head football coach at 24 and was invited to the prom by a student! Their monthly rent cost a whopping $50. He spent summers working construction, and later received a masters in education from Emporia State.

After spending five years at Wellsville High as a business teacher and coach, in 1966, a college teammate recruited him to work at Shawnee Mission North High in suburban Kansas City.

Bob would invest 30 years there building into young male and female athletes as he was an early adopter of the “Fosbury Flop” and taught himself how to coach the jump events in the track and field program, including at least six state champions. He also served on the coaching staff of four state champion football teams and took the helm as the head coach from 1979-1985 and again from 1991-1996.

After battling bladder cancer, Bob and Marianne semi-retired to their summer cabin in Chipita Park, while buying and renovating two nearby log cabins and starting a summer rental business that they operated until 2022.

Bob also coached one year of football at Colorado College and was the jump coach in CC’s track program from 1998-2011. In 2010, Bob was inducted into the College of Emporia Hall of Fame as an athlete and then in 2014 into the SM North Hall of Fame as a coach.

Bob enjoyed reading books about World War II and baseball heroes Mickey Mantle and Stan Musial. He passed time gardening and landscaping, and held a special love of dogs, birds, foxes and bears whom he tried to talk with in the mountains.

“GrandBob” would recite the names of all 9 grandsons and 1 granddaughter in birth order every night during dinner prayers. Bob and Marianne were active members at First Presbyterian from 1996 until his death where he served on the usher team.

Bob is survived by Marianne, his devoted wife of 64 years, his children Darris (Susan), Barry (Jana) and Robyn Skur (Darrin), grandchildren Andrew (Emilie), Tyler (Kelley), Benjamin, Dustin (Julia), Haddon, Hudson, Peyton Skur (Becca), Colson Skur (Paige), Gabe Skur, Ainsley Skur and 5 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sister Shirley Charleson and brother Ronnie, as well as beloved nieces and nephews.

Any memorial donations can be made to the SMN Sports Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3), and sent to Jim Ballou at 11004 Delmar Street, Leawood, KS 66211, or to the Deacons Fund at First Presbyterian Church.