Robert Leo Olberding

Robert Leo Olberding, 91, of Seneca, Kansas, died on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, Kansas. 

Robert was born on May 3, 1933, at the family home east of Baileyville, Kansas, to Leo and Dollie (Kill) Olberding. During his youth, he loved baseball, roller skating, and dancing. By all accounts, he was also very adept at playing the piano. He attended school in Baileyville. 

On December 31, 1953, he married Leona Boeding at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly, Kansas. In 1954, Robert entered the United States Army and served as a mechanic during the Korean conflict. During this time, Robert made numerous lifelong friends, and he and Leona would travel across the country to visit with them through the years. 

After his honorable discharge in 1956, he ran the Senvita seed test farm for several years. In 1962, he purchased a farm south of Corning, Kansas where he farmed, ran a Grade A dairy, and later a cow/calf beef herd. In 1995, he and Leona returned to live at the Olberding homestead west of Seneca, Kansas. Robert and Leona celebrated 65 years of marriage prior to her death on May 24, 2019. 

Robert was an avid bowler and was instrumental in building the Knights of Columbus bowling alley in Seneca. He was a member of the Corning American Legion, Seneca Knights of Columbus, and Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. All the way into his 60’s, he could still slalom water ski and ride a bike backwards. He coached baseball, played cards, raced cars, and was always a fierce competitor. One of his prized moments was when he was a contestant on the Price is Right.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Leona E. (Boeding) Olberding; his brother, John Olberding; his sisters, Marilee Olberding, Doralyn Huerter, and Lois Boeding; two grandsons, Ryan Olberding and Shane Olberding; a granddaughter, Mary Love; a great-granddaughter, Hannah Love; and great-grandson, Emry Plasha.

Robert is survived by his twelve children, Duane (Kim) Olberding of Kansas City, Missouri, Janet (Neil) Conley of Wichita, Kansas, Barbara (Gerald) Feldkamp of Centralia, Kansas, Joan (Dan) Rickel of Topeka, Kansas, James (Jean) Olberding of Seneca, Kansas, Donna (Kenneth) Wege of Hoyt, Kansas, Michael (Sara) Olberding of Abilene, Kansas, Cheryl Broxterman of Hoyt, Kansas, Colette (Cy) Wallisch of Effingham, Kansas, Kevin (Valerie) Olberding of Circleville, Kansas, Angela (Shawn) Wise of El Dorado, Kansas, and Brian (Mindy) Olberding of Corning, Kansas; 40 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Glenda Earl, Joyce Karst, Bonnie Lytton, and Sharon Renfrow; and sister-in-law, Mary Ann Olberding. 

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. A private family interment was held on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Seneca with military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Knights of Columbus Bowling Alley in Seneca and sent in care of the Popkess Memorial Chapel, 814 Castle Street, Seneca, Kansas 66538.