Robert E. Lisbon

Funeral services for Robert E. “Bob” Lisbon, 75, Lawrence, KS will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, September 13, 2010 at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence.  Burial will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence.  He died on Thursday, September 09, 2010 at his home, following a long battle with prostate cancer.

He was born on September 26, 1934 in Hartford, CT, the son of Earl and Mabel Hammick Lisbon.  He served in the U.S. Army.

Bob graduated from the University of Hartford (formerly Hillyer College) in Bloomfield, CT with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. He was very active in baseball and basketball in college and in other sports most of his life.  He attended the Boston Red Sox Fantasy Camp Dream Week in January 2000, at the age of 65.  His interest in sports carried through to an active interest in the sports activities of all his grandchildren.

Most of his career, Bob was in the HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration) industry.  During that time, the family lived in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois and Kansas. He moved to Lawrence in 1977 from Illinois. He retired in December 1994.

After his retirement, Bob and his wife, Jan, volunteered for the International Executive Service Corp, traveling to the Ukraine, Bulgaria, Jordan and Russia.  Many lifelong memories and friendships developed from those travels.

For the past twenty five years, Bob and Jan spent their winters in Marco Island, Florida.  They became actively involved with the Guadalupe Center in Immokalee, FL, volunteering in an after school program (K-2nd grade), tutored by high school students who earned credit towards their college education.  There are currently 400 children in the program and 64 former tutors in college. He was also active in the greater Naples Leadership Program and the Habitat for Humanity there.

Bob and Janice Ruth Ripley were married on May 31, 1958 in Hartford, CT.  She survives of the home.

Other survivors include: a daughter, Karen (husband, Todd) Andregg, of Lawrence, a son, Keith (wife, Kathy), of Olathe, KS, a daughter-in-law, Kristina (husband, Tony) Rivotto, of Shawnee, KS, two brothers; Dick Lisbon, of Pittsboro, NC, David Lisbon, of Bonita Springs, FL and eight grandchildren (Nicole Andregg McWilliams, Travis Andregg, Zachary Andregg, Jonathan Lisbon, Olivia Lisbon, Nicholas Lisbon, Kailey Lisbon Rivotto and Samantha Rivotto).  He was preceded in death in 1988 by two sons; Kraig and Kevin Lisbon.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.

The family suggests memorials in his name to the G-A-P (Guadalupe After-School Program) or to Plymouth Congregational Church and sent in care of the mortuary.