Robert J. Becker, Sr., 78, of Overland Park, KS, passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2023. A Rosary will be prayed at 2:00 PM Sunday, March 12, 2023 at the Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia Street, Lenexa, KS followed by a visitation till 4:00 PM. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 AM Monday, March 13, at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, 8311 West 93rd Street, Overland Park, KS 66214. Entombment in Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, Kansas.
Robert (Bob) was born September 2, 1944, in his parents’ home in Nemaha County, Kansas. Mr. Becker, Sr. is survived by his wife, Alma Jean Becker, three sons Robert (Marti), James (Kris), and Charles (Traci), two daughters Sheila Burgess (Jeffrey) and Sarah Phares, 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, three brothers Albert, David, and Richard and two sisters Dorothy and Carol. Bob is preceded in death by his parents Albert and Agilberta, and two sisters Mary and Kathleen.
Dad grew up in Frankfort KS. He worked at the Frankfort Co-Op and later became a truck driver at the Beattie Co-Op. Dad moved the family to the city in 1972 where he worked as a truck dispatcher at Safeway. He routed trucks to all the stores before GPS, google maps and cell phones. Dad was our map, he knew all the highways, streets, and addresses. Even as adults when we would go places Dad would ask what routes we were taking and offer advice on the best routes.
In 1992 Safeway moved out of KC, and Dad found himself unemployed. Personal computers were becoming common and Dad being open to new technology knew his kids could help create his resume on a computer, not a typewriter. He went to work at Fleming as a transportation manager. Still around the trucks, driving and routing. Dad met his wife Jean at Fleming, who he married in June, 2000.
Dad was a devoted father and husband and cared deeply for his family. When we were school age Dad would take two weeks in the summer and drive over the road to make money for our tuition. Dad worked hard to put us through Catholic schools. He never missed a sporting or special event and worked nights for many years so that he could be home when we got home from school. On some Saturdays Dad would take us to work so that he could do paperwork. I am sure that was difficult with four of us running around. I think he enjoyed watching us run in and out to the scales to see how much we weighed. We always weighed zero. Dad also took the kids and grandkids on rides in the big trucks, letting them “drive” on his lap and blow the horn.
After Dad and Jean retired from Fleming they traveled, and started mall walking. When the mall closed Dad religiously worked out in the basement, and Dad and Jean recently began attending exercise classes several times a week. They enjoyed bus trips throughout the United States. Dad loved to talk about all the people they had met. Dad knew no stranger.
Dad was an avid reader. He worked the crossword puzzle and read the newspaper daily. He loved to learn, was a wealth of knowledge and always gave us things to think about. Dad was quiet and soft-spoken. When Dad spoke, we all listened. When he would get angry with us, he was always quick to apologize. He was soft hearted and would feel bad for saying words in anger. He made each of us feel special. Through all our mistakes and decisions in life even if he didn't agree he supported us. He always listened and seemed to know when to offer advice, when to ask questions, and when to validate what we were feeling without judgment.
Dad rarely complained about his health, even when his COPD was acting up. Dad was not perfect by any means, but in our eyes he was the most perfect person on earth. We will miss him immensely.