Obituary of Robert Louis Liebert

Robert "Bob" Louis Liebert, 88, former longtime Coffeyville resident, passed away on the afternoon of August 6, 2015 at Brookdale College Square in Overland Park, Kansas. He was born on December 25, 1926 in Coffeyville, Kansas, the oldest son of Albert L. and Mamie Jordan Liebert. He was united in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony to Patricia Louise Smith on June 17, 1961 at Holy Name Catholic Church, Coffeyville, Kansas by his brother, Reverend William T. Liebert, S.V.D. To this union was born a daughter, Caroline Jane. Mr. Liebert graduated from Holy Name Catholic School in 1940 and Field Kindley High School in 1944. While he was in high school, he was a member of Student Congress, the football team and Thespians. He attended Marquette University during the fall of 1944 and left due to illness. He returned to Coffeyville and worked at Dixon Manufacturing Company as an electrician and took courses at Coffeyville Community College. Mr. Liebert attended Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science (Kansas State University) from the fall of 1945 until the fall of 1950 when he was drafted into the United States Army. He was sent to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he worked with the Research and Development Lab of the Corps of Engineers during the Korean War serving as Private and then Corporal until June 1952. He was honorably discharged in July 1956. Mr. Liebert returned to K-State in the fall of 1952 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in January 1953. While at K-State, he was a member of the Phi Kappa (Phi Kappa Theta) Fraternity and served as House Manager. He was also a member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Newman Club. Mr. Liebert began working as an Electrician's Helper at Liebert Brothers Electric Company in Coffeyville during the summers from 1944-1950. The company was started by his father and uncle in 1911. He began working full time for the company in 1953 and continued working there for over 60 years. He became partners with his brother, Albert C. Liebert and longtime friend, Emil W. Roesky, Jr., in 1976. He has served as company President and was on the Board of Directors. He presided over the Heating and Air Conditioning Department. Mr. Liebert was a lifelong member of Holy Name Catholic Church serving many roles including the Holy Name School Board, lector, and usher. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Third and Fourth Degree. He was also a longtime member of various organizations including the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce serving as the Director of the Junior Chamber of Commerce from 1954-1956, the Coffeyville Lions Club, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, KSU Alumni Association, and the Friends of the Brown Mansion. He served as the FKHS Class of 1944 Reunion Committee Secretary, and he was also on the S.E.K. Grain, Inc. Board of Directors, and Treasurer of the Triple C Investment Club. In 2009, he received the Coffeyville Community College Alumna and Friend Award for continued support of the college. Mr. Liebert moved to Lenexa, Kansas in the fall of 2013 to be closer to his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters. Mr. Liebert was a kind-hearted and generous man who enjoyed spending time with his family which included many family celebrations, and attending many of his granddaughters' dance recitals and Grandparent's Day celebrations. He enjoyed working, attending and serving the Church and the community, watching K-State games, fishing, farming, hunting and electronics. He truly enjoyed working with people, and he believed that the customer always came first. Survivors include his daughter, Caroline Law and husband, Brad, and his granddaughters, Alayna and Megan Law, Lenexa, Kansas. Other survivors are his nieces: Ann Marie Vannoster, Coffeyville, Kansas, Mary Liebert, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jane Ellen Liebert, Lansing, Kansas along with his great nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents, Albert and Mamie Liebert, wife, Patricia (Smith) Liebert, brothers, Reverend William T. Liebert, S.V.D., Albert C. Liebert and infant brother, John Liebert, sister, Lucille A. Liebert, and sister-in-law, Geraldine A. Liebert. Friends may call on Friday, August 14, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Friday, at Holy Name Catholic Church, 408 Willow Street, Coffeyville, Kansas, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday August 15, 2015 at Holy Name Catholic Church, Coffeyville, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery in Coffeyville, Kansas. At the request of Mr. Liebert, donations may be made to "Holy Name Catholic School", contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337. Please write "Robert Liebert Memorial" on the memo line.