Robert Fred Bechtel

Robert Fred Bechtel, 95, Lawrence, KS, passed on to eternal happiness, on April 25, 2026.

Bob was born on September 20, 1930, to Paul and Rose (Wanstrath) Bechtel in Topeka, KS. He was the eldest child of three, his brother Ted and his sister, Joan.

Bob went to Holy Name Catholic grade school and graduated from Hayden High School in 1948. Bob went on to Benedictine College, Atchison, KS, where he obtained a degree in Theology in 1952. He felt called to join the priesthood and graduated from Conception Seminary in Conception, MO, and was ordained in May 1956. Sacred Heart Parish in Kansas City, KS was his first parish, where he served as assistant Pastor. Following that, he served as pastor in eastern Kansas parishes in Osawatomie, Mound City, Perry, and Ottawa. Bob was asked and accepted the position, as the first Catholic Chaplain for the Kansas State Senate during the 1967-68 session of the Kansas Congress.

Bob took a leave of absence from the Kansas Diocese of the Catholic Church in 1974 and was later laicized by the Bishop.

In 1976, he accepted a position with the Federal ACTION Agency, as a Program Specialist in the Corporation for National Service branch of the agency. He began working in that capacity, in New Jersey, and, after two years, was transferred to Nebraska and finally to the State of Kansas. As a Program Specialist, he recruited volunteers for Peace Corp and later with Vista and, oversaw the Federal programs, Foster Grandparents and Senior Companion. He retired in 1999.

While stationed in Nebraska, he received his MSW degree from the University of Nebraska in 1982. After graduation, still working as Program Specialist for the State of Nebraska, he and two other Social Workers began a partnership as therapists in a group they called Psychotherapy Associates, which still exists today. As a MSW graduate he earned Diplomat and ACSW status with the group.

Bob was transferred by the US National Service Agency to Kansas in 1988, but remained living in Nebraska, driving back and forth between Lincoln and Topeka, seeing his clients at Psychotherapy Associates on weekends.

After many years as a “bachelor”, he dated and after a year, married Joleen Van Rheen Miller on December 29, 1990, in Topeka, KS. In 1994, they moved from Lincoln, NE to Lawrence, KS, at which time, he left his practice at Psychotherapy Associates.

Bob was active in many ways in Lawrence, having been part of the Lawrence Jayhawk Kiwanis group spending many exciting hours sneaking peeks at the KU basketball team, when the Kiwanis operated a concession stand in Allen Fieldhouse during the basketball season. He was Douglas County Hospice patient care relief volunteer, as well as serving as acting chaplain when requested by VNA. He later volunteered at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Palliative Care, and in the Oncology Department, and served one year as President of the Volunteer Services. Bob was a member of the Lawrence Progressive Campaign political action group for several years and he was also a supporting member of the Hidden Valley Girl Scout Camp.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Rose and Paul, his brother Ted and his sister, Joan. He is survived by his wife, Joleen, his stepson Mike (Jean), Ashville, NC, stepson Mark (Bhavya), Elburn, IL, stepdaughter, Kathy (Kerry) of Smithville, MO, and stepdaughter, Dianne (Kevin) of Helena, MO. Eleven step-grandchildren and 1 step-great-grandson, 2 nephews, Bruce and Eric and 4 nieces, Kathy, Christy, Lynn and Lisa.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, a memorial gift may be made to Midland Hospice, LMH Oncology Department or the LMH Charitable Care Fund, Willow Domestic Violence Shelter, Just Food or any other charity of choice.

A Celebration of Life Service to remember Bob will be announced in this column at a later date.