Robert (Bob) Paul Laushman Sr, 94, of Lawrence, died Friday, October 27th, 2017 at Bridge Haven. No services are planned for Bob who donated his body to the Kansas University Med School.
Bob was born June 6, 1923 to Paul and Helen Laushman in Omaha, Ne.
He was a member of the National Honor Society at Omaha South High and was active in band, Orchestra, A Cappella Choir and local dance bands. During World War II he served in the Army Air Corp. He graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and taught high school music during the 1950’s. While at Drake he met his future wife, Donna Rochford who he married in 1947.
Bob worked in musical instrument sales at both the retail and wholesale level for 39 years and retired from Selmer Co in 1991 after 22 years as a District Sales Manager.
After retirement he found the time to start playing the trumpet again and enjoyed being part of the Lawrence City Band, the Jazzhaus Big Band and the University Band at KU for many years before health issues forced him to retire his trumpet.
He is survived by sons, Robert Jr. Pittsburg, Ks. (Susan), Roger, Oberlin, Oh (Judy) and Rusty, New York, NY. (Ellen Jacobson) and daughter, Karen Risner, (James), Lawrence, Ks. Grandchildren: Matthew, Andy, Pat, Danny, Katie, Jeremiah and Emily. He had 5 great grandchildren.
Bob is also survived by Steve Molloy, Parkville, Mo who was unofficially adopted and became a member of the Laushman family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Dorothy, his son Randall in 1975 and his wife Donna, after 66 years of marriage, in 2013.
A special thanks to all of the Bridge Haven Memory Care Staff and the Visiting Nurses Association-Hospice for all of their care.
The family requests donations be made to the Kansas City Jazz camp, in care of Rumsey Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
Online condolences sent at rumsey-yost.com