Robert Behrend Gebhards, the son of Benard Behrend and Ruby Claire (Greenley) Gebhards, was born February 3, 1931 in Phelps City, Missouri. He attended Rock Port Schools in his youth, graduating from Rock Port High School in 1949. Robert graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1953 with a degree in Agriculture and was active in the ROTC program, being commissioned into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant. He was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for two years and honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant. He was active in the Army Reserves until 1961.

Robert was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ann Hilger of Hamburg, Iowa on September 19, 1953. They made their home at Fort Sill where their son, David was born. In 1956 they moved to Westboro, where they began their farming career. It was at this time, their daughter Karen was welcomed into the family. In 1958, they moved to Rock Port, Missouri where Robert continued his farming career. Robert also worked as a mechanic at Boulware Chevy Garage in Rock Port for a short time and surveyed for the Atchison County Soil and Water Conservation Service. He was a farmer’s farmer; he thoroughly loved growing corn and studying ways to improve yields and become a success at his profession. Robert hobbies included hunting, fishing, snow skiing, water skiing, boating, golfing, and spending time with family. He passed away Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at Golden Living Center, Nebraska City, Nebraska, at the age of 78 years.

He was a member of First Lutheran Church, Rock Port, the Missouri Corn Growers Association and the National Corn Growers Association. He formerly served on the Atchison County Coop Board and National Corn Merchandising Board; was on the Board of Directors as a founding member of Golden Triangle Energy Coop, a member of Atchison County Soil and Water Conservation District Board, Atchison County Farm Bureau, and a member of Theta Chi Fraternity, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

He is preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Susan Gebhards. Robert is survived by his wife of the home, Elizabeth; son, David Gebhards and his wife, Kay, Rock Port, daughter, Karen Vette and her husband, Bobby, Westboro; grandchildren, Brian Vette, Rock Port, Nicole Vette, Tim and Kara Vette, all of Olathe, Kansas, Christopher and Rebekah Gebhards, Rock Port, Ben and Jessica Gebhards, Cincinnati, Ohio; two great grandsons, Isaac Vette and Gabriel Gebhards, brother, John Gebhards, Newburgh, New York, sister, Ann Meade and husband, Jim, Lebanon, Missouri.

Services:
3:00 p.m., Saturday, October 3, 2009, First Lutheran Church, Rock Port.
Interment: Hunter Cemetery, Rock Port.
Visitation:
7:00 – 8:00 p.m., Friday, October 2, 2009, Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.
Memorials: First Lutheran Church or Alzheimer’s Association.
Military rites under the auspices of Ralph Greer American Legion Post #49, Rock Port.
Obituaries and online condolences: www.minterfuneralchapel.com
Services: Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.