ROBERT KITCHEN

 

 CLASS OF 1954

JULY 29, 1936 - MARCH 17, 2010

Obituary provided by Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home

Robert J. Kitchen, age 73, native of rural Osawatomie, Kansas went to be with the Lord on March 17, 2010 while vacationing in Nashville, Tennessee.

Robert was born a twin on July 29, 1936 in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the son of Ross and Eleanor (Hay) Kitchen. He grew up on the family farm that was established west of Osawatomie in 1870. He attended Osawatomie schools as a member of the National Honor Society, Future Farmers of America and President of KAY's. He was also president of his 1954 graduating class.

He was in the Army National Guard, serving from 1956 until 1964.

He was united in marriage to Norma Jean Roessner on September 30, 1957 at the Homewood Christian Church near Ottawa, Kansas. At this time, they established a successful dairy and farming operation while proudly raising their four children.

Robert was dedicated to his church, family, and community. He was a member of the Green Valley Baptist Church until 1988, serving as deacon, trustee and chairman of the building committee, being instrumental in the rebuilding after the church was destroyed by fire in 1961. Later in 1988, he and Norma Jean became members of the College Church of Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas. He was also a board member of the Miami County Cooperative, Rural Water #3, Miami County Soil Conservation, and the Osawatomie Township.

Robert was a well-known, hard working farmer and had received the award for Outstanding Farmer of Eastern Kansas. He enjoyed traveling to Branson, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona. He also enjoyed antiquing, fishing, and spending time with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister who died at birth.

He is survived by his wife Norma Jean of the home; two sons and their wives and children, Robbie and Beth Kitchen, Elisha and Ashley of Shawnee and Randy and Misty Kitchen, Melissa, Sean, Harleigh, and Cyrus of Osawatomie; two daughters and their husbands and children, Shelly and Scott Sullivan, Jacob and Lauren of Kansas City, Missouri and Jodie and Chuck Stevens, Ethan, Maggie, Thomas, Austin, Abbey and Noah of Ottawa; his twin sister Roberta Cochran and her husband Ronald of Ardmore, Oklahoma; and many relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at the College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday, March 22, 2010, at the First Presbyterian Church in Osawatomie. Burial will be in the Green Valley Cemetery, rural Osawatomie. Memorials are to the Olathe College Church of the Nazarene, he First Presbyterian Church of Osawatomie, or the FFA - Future Farmers of America.

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