12/3/1927 – 5/21/2018
J. Robert Wilson, 90, died on May 21, 2018, at Holly Creek Retirement Community in Centennial, Colorado, of complications of Parkinson’s disease.
Bob was born in Meade, Kansas on December 3, 1927, the son of Robert and Bess (Osborne) Wilson. He graduated from Meade High School in 1945. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a Hospital Apprentice in training for the invasion of Japan when the Japanese surrender ended World War II.
Bob graduated from the University of Kansas, earning his B.A. in geography in 1950 and his law degree in 1953. After law school, he returned to Meade where he practiced law, served as Meade City Attorney, and was twice elected Meade County Attorney. In 1957, Bob took a position with the Kansas Corporation Commission in Topeka, later serving as General Counsel and a member of the Commission.
On a summer vacation to Estes Park, Colorado, Bob met the love of his life, Marguerite Reiter of Kansas City. They eloped and were married in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 27, 1960. Soon thereafter, Bob took a job with Kansas Nebraska Natural Gas Company (later KN Energy, and a predecessor of today’s Kinder Morgan). Bob and Marguerite moved to Hastings, Nebraska, where their son, John Ramsey, was born. Bob worked in various roles at KN, eventually becoming president in 1978 and chairman in 1985. During his tenure the company grew and prospered, moving its headquarters to Lakewood, Colorado in 1980; it successfully fended off several takeover attempts by Mesa Petroleum (T. Boone Pickens). Bob also served for many years as a board member of Farmers Alliance Mutual Insurance Company of McPherson, Kansas.
In his later years, Bob enjoyed traveling the world with Marguerite, including a memorable visit to the Holy Land; playing golf; supporting his beloved Kansas Jayhawks, the Colorado Buffaloes and the Denver Broncos; and spending time with friends and family.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Marguerite Wilson of Centennial, Colorado; his son John (Mollie Mitchell) of Golden, Colorado; nieces Susan Larson (David) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Joyce Brophy (George) of Leawood, Kansas; and his grandnieces and grandnephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary, 6601 S. Colorado Blvd, Centennial, CO 80121. Visitation will be held one hour prior, from 1:00-2:00 pm at the funeral home. Burial will be held in Olinger Chapel Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the University of Kansas or the Parkinson Association of the Rockies.
