Robert 'Bob' Frank Jurgensmeyer
COLUMBIA — Robert "Bob" Frank Jurgensmeyer died Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010. He was 75.
Mr. Jurgensmeyer was born April 5, 1935, on his family's farm near St. Elizabeth to Joseph and Clara Jurgensmeyer. He married the love of his life, Ruth Kaiser, on June 14, 1958, in St. Thomas.
Mr. Jurgensmeyer graduated from high school in St. Elizabeth and graduated from MU in 1958. While attending MU, Mr. Jurgensmeyer began working at Philips & Co.
Mr. Jurgensmeyer returned to Philips & Co. after completing active service in the United States Army, eventually becoming president of the company. Mr. Jurgensmeyer later ventured into developing The Colonies Office Plaza and Country Club Village, both of Columbia.
Mr. Jurgensmeyer continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves and Selective Service and retired as a lieutenant colonel.
Enjoying many community activities, Mr. Jurgensmeyer was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church for 45 years. Mr. Jurgensmeyer was also a decades-long member of the Little Dixie Kiwanis Club, where he particularly enjoyed selling tickets for the annual pancake breakfast.
Mr. Jurgensmeyer was a die-hard fan of MU athletics and maintained season tickets for both football and basketball games for more than four decades. He coached Little League baseball for his children and was active in his sons' Boy Scout troops.
Outside of community involvement, Mr. Jurgensmeyer was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed salmon fishing in Alaska with his brothers, children, grandchildren and friends. He especially liked sharing the bounty of his catch with others. Mr. Jurgensmeyer also enjoyed farming, raising cattle and camping.
Mr. Jurgensmeyer is survived by his wife, Ruth; three sons, Randy and Jane Russell Jurgensmeyer of Dallas, Brian and Cathy Middleton Jurgensmeyer of Leawood, Kan., and Jeff and Amy McGregor Jurgensmeyer of Overland Park, Kan.; two daughters, René and Stan Jurgensmeyer-Gillespie of Leawood, Kan., and Julie and Bryan Jurgensmeyer Sansbury of The Woodlands, Texas; and 17 grandchildren, Hannah and Claire of Dallas, Sarah, David and Luke of Leawood, Kan., Philip, George, Annie, Ellie, Emily and Jack of Overland Park, Kan., Ben, Lauren and Megan of Leawood, Kan., and Cooper, Presley and Harper of The Woodlands, Texas.
His mother, father and brother, Ambrose, died earlier.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 903 Bernadette Drive in Columbia. A reception and luncheon will immediately follow. Mr. Jurgensmeyer will be buried with military honors at St. Lawrence Cemetery in St. Elizabeth.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Fr. Tolton Catholic High School, 903 Bernadette Drive, Columbia, MO 65203, or the American Heart Association, 104 Corporate Lake Drive, Columbia, MO 65203.
Tributes may be posted at memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com.
