Robert James Dougan

Robert James Dougan was born April 7,1948 in Kansas City, Missouri, to Robert Ivan and Wilma Dougan. He was the eldest of his sisters Linda and Sharon and his brother Jerry. He passed into the next life on June 22, 2025 at the age of 77.

Jim was the husband of Ellen (Lawson) Dougan for 55 years and together they had 3 children; Philip (Elizabeth), Julie (Kirk) and Jason. He had 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Jim loved any time he could be with his grandchildren, celebrating their achievements, helping them fix their cars or listening to them talk about their lives. His favorite though was bouncing the babies on his lap or walking them around the restaurant to visit all the other tables while we had family dinners.

After graduating from Grandview High School in May of 1966, he joined the Marine Corp in July and served 3 tours of duty during the Vietnam War, earning 2 Purple Hearts, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnamese Service Medal and the Vietnamese Campaign Medal. After his time in the military, he joined the apprenticeship program for the local 101 operators union. He enjoyed a long career as a heavy equipment mechanic, much of that time as the owner of Construction Equipment Service.

Volunteering for causes he cared about was Jim’s forte. He was a Boy Scout troop leader, member of the Grandview Education Foundation, VFW participant, three time Exalted Leader of Grandview Elks Lodge and officer of the year for the state of Missouri. One of his final great accomplishments was being selected for the Heartland Honor Flight which flies veterans to Washington DC to view the Vietnam War Memorial where he was able to locate names of his fallen comrades from decades before.

Jim leaves a legacy that will be impossible to forget. He worked hard, showed up for others, faithfully loved his wife, took care of his parents as they aged, operated with integrity and generosity in business dealings and spent countless hours on his back sun deck grilling and smoking meat for anyone and everyone who were always welcome to stop by. Anytime his kids run in to someone who knew their dad, they hear stories of how he helped them out, gave them a job, or simply that he was one of the best (and toughest) men they’d ever met. He was universally respected and admired.

Many thanks to the VA Hospital for the care they showed Jim and his family these past few years and the community of Elks from Grandview Hickman Mills lodge for their support.

A visitation for Robert will be held Friday, June 27, 2025 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Community of Christ, 12600 Byars Rd, Grandview, MO 64030. A funeral will occur Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM, 12600 Byars Rd, Grandview, MO 64030. A burial will follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, 9501 159th St, Overland Park, KS 66221.