Robert Paul Hirschmann

Robert Paul Hirschmann passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 21, 2024 in Leawood, Kansas. He was born on December 26, 1934 in New York City. Bob was preceded in passing by his father Albert, mother Anna, brother Al, and his beloved wife, Patricia. Bob is survived by his children: Patty (Charlie) Mitts of Wichita, Marc (Sheryl) Hirschmann of Wellsville, Kansas, Karl (Beth) Hirschmann of Golden, Colorado, and Robin of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. In addition, he leaves behind six grandchildren as well as nine great-grandchildren. He was also blessed with three bonus (by marriage) grandchildren and six bonus great-grandchildren.

Robert Hirschmann was a good man and he will be remembered by those closest to him for his devotion to family, his belief in the power of education, his pragmatism, his quietly competitive spirit, and his unintentional sense of humor.

Bob was devoted to Pat. Bob and Pat were married for 59 years until her passing in 2016. During that time there was never any question about their love for each other. While he may have enjoyed the quiet initially when she passed, it is safe to say that Bob missed Pat greatly over the past eight years.

Bob loved his family. Bob loved his kids and made many sacrifices for them. But he was a quiet man and had a hard time articulating his love.

In fact, the best way to end a conversation with Bob was to tell him that you loved him. This came in handy if he decided it was a good day to talk politics.

Bob loved babies. He delighted in holding his grandchildren and great-grandchildren while they slept. However, once they awoke, he quickly passed them back to their parents or on to his wife, Pat.

Bob believed in education. With degrees from CCNY (Bachelor of Science), Iowa State University (Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry), and Wichita State University (Master of Business Administration), Bob firmly believed in education and the opportunities it created. As such, he funded education savings accounts for each of his children and grandchildren.

Bob was pragmatic. He was the Head of Research and Development for Vulcan Materials in Wichita, Kansas for many years. He was quite successful, in large part due to his ability to see and understand business trends. He would use that information to determine what his team should focus on to create positive future outcomes.

Bob loved big white dogs. Specifically, two Great Pyrenees, Three and Princess. Three helped him heal after Pat’s passing. When Three went to dog heaven, Bob adopted Princess who provided him solace and companionship in his later years.

Bob was a staunch Republican. When he had a stroke many years ago, he took Three on long walks as part of his physical therapy. Once he complained that Three often pulled him down. One of his smarty-pants kids noted that given his political views, Bob must have fallen only to the right. Bob thought that was funny.

Bob was a sports fan. While Bob was very reserved, he would show great emotion and cheer loudly while watching a competitive WSU Shocker basketball game. Bob was also a lifelong Yankees fan and took Pat to see them play the Indians on one of their first dates. She proved to be a keeper.

Bob loved to win. He loved playing games and he usually won. He was an excellent Bridge player, but admitted his unconventional plays often drove his partners to distraction. Our family played Hearts every New Year’s Eve while waiting for midnight. Bob always won. While he might lose a few times early, he was processing and soon figured out the subtleties of any game. Then everyone else was in for an extended losing streak.

Bob was funny. He loved a good joke but rarely told them. After Pat passed, he decided that the best way to get rid of the unused greeting cards in the basement was to choose one randomly and send it regardless of the occasion. As a result, one might receive a Halloween card for an April birthday. Or an Easter card for Christmas. The best part of this story is that he wasn’t trying to be funny. He simply wanted to use up all of the greeting cards.

Bob may have enjoyed camping. He went on many camping trips with his kids and their Girl or Boy Scout troops. While he seemed to enjoy camping, he loved spending that time with his kids. For a city boy, he held his own in the great outdoors.

Bob collected stamps. Bob grew up collecting postage stamps and was an active member of the Wichita Stamp Club until he moved to Lee’s Summit, Missouri towards the end of his life. He loved the history connected to each stamp, especially if it came from Europe. While he was a successful scientist and businessman, his true love was history. When asked why he didn’t pursue history as a career, he replied that he didn’t write well enough and noted that the pay was much better in industry.

Bob hated spicy foods. He was vociferous about his disdain for spicy food. He didn’t just complain, he protested loudly. So much so that the cafeteria workers at Vulcan presented him with an all-you-can-eat voucher for Taco Tuesdays. It is safe to say that this coupon was never used.

Bob hated poor service. Woe to the waitress or waiter who failed meet his expectations at a restaurant. While he never yelled, Bob would quietly and firmly make his displeasure known. Suffice it to say that if a waitress or waiter met his standards of service, they were rewarded with a generous tip.

Bob was comfortable being Bob. Many years ago, Bob was forced by circumstance to drive his son’s Ford Ranchero to work for about a month. His coworkers at Vulcan Materials teased him daily as the vehicle and its tailgate mural were decidedly not his style. As always, Bob was unconcerned what others thought about him. He knew who he was and was always able to laugh along, even if the joke was on him.

Bob was a good man and we were blessed to spend so much time with him. He was greatly loved and we will think of him often. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Kansas Humane Society.