ELLINWOOD – Robert E. Yarmer, 90, passed away at Ellinwood District Hospital on October 13, 2023. Born December 24, 1932 in Ellinwood, he was the son of Joseph and Julia (Malone) Yarmer. A lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church he married Madge Buckbee there on October 14, 1977. Robert’s first job was delivering the Wichita Beacon newspaper for five years, quitting at the end of his senior year. He was a partner in Strobl-Yarmer Construction for fifty years building many custom homes in the surrounding area. After graduating high school Mr. Yarmer served in the Army. He took basic training at Fort Riley and attended Counterfire school at Fort Benning, Georgia, before being attached to Hq. and Hq. Company, 6th Infantry Regiment, Berlin, Germany. He served on the City Council several terms and was the President of the Ellinwood Community Historical Society when they published the 1991 history book the “Echoes”. In 1996 Robert received the Distinguished Community Service Award, given by the Ellinwood Rotary Club.

Survivors include his wife Madge; sister, Joleen Truesdell, Denver, CO; and several nieces and nephews. His brother Richard passed away in 1956. Richard was born in January and Robert in December of 1932 making them the same age.

Robert had many hobbies including history, military, photography and travel. He was a life member of the Kansas Historical Society and a charter member of the Ellinwood Community Historical Society among others. As an avid collector he sought out early Kansas and Ellinwood maps, books, and pictures, compiled the Annals of Ellinwood and wrote about early merchants, their businesses, and uncommon events of the town. Robert’s mother, a one-time school teacher, taught him the love of reading, a passion he carried all his life and leaving a large library of history books in his passing. His body was taken to the landfill with regular trash pickup Tuesday.

Funeral mass will take place 10:00 AM, Monday, October 16 at St. Joseph Church in Ellinwood with Father Terrance Klein officiating. Interment will follow at Lakin-Comanche Cemetery in Ellinwood. Visitation will take place at Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood Sunday, October 15 from 1-6 PM with Vigil/Rosary service at 7 PM at the church. Memorials are suggested to Ellinwood Historical Society, Ellinwood Hospital Foundation, or St. Joseph Church in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526. 

Funeral arrangements provided by

Minnis Chapel

113 N Main St.

Ellinwood, KS.  67526

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Oct. 14, 2023

(Editor's Note: The obituary was written by Robert Yarmer prior to his passing.)