Robert Zurbuchen

Robert Dean Zurbuchen, 84, of Kansas City, MO passed away Jan. 4, 2012 at his home in Kansas City, MO. Bob was born December 12, 1927 in Elk, Kansas to Roy Rudolph Zurbuchen and Alta Leona Morris Zurbuchen. He graduated from North Kansas City High School, where he met his future wife, Pat Wright -- because they were frequently seated alphabetically in school, "W" and "Z" were always nearby.  Bob was an accomplished musician, playing trumpet and leading a swing band in the 1940s, and even registering a copyright on an original musical composition called "You're an Angel." Bob first served both in the U.S. Army and in the newly-created Air Force. In the military service he played trumpet for the 49th Army Ground Forces Band in Austria and also for the Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps.  Bob graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1952. He worked for both IBM and Hallmark Cards, in the early days of both companies. But his dream was to own a business, so he left the corporate world in the 1960's to become a lifelong entrepreneur.  Over many years Bob owned businesses in many fields, from construction to light plane aviation to growing nursery tree stock. Bob married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Lee Wright on August 5, 1950. Bob and wife Pat raised 3 children on the family farm north of Smithville, MO, on which they lived for 40 years. Bob was a longtime church member and deacon, and he enjoyed singing bass and playing his trumpet for many years as part of the music ministry.  Bob is preceded in death by wife Pat Zurbuchen, and two brothers, Rudy Zurbuchen of Gower, MO and Donald Zurbuchen of Kansas City, MO. He is survived by daughters Kimberly Ann Hammons of Kansas City, MO; Nancy Beth Zurbuchen of Kansas City, MO; and son Steven Robert Zurbuchen of Oklahoma City, OK; 5 granddaughters and 1 great-granddaughter. Funeral service is 3:00 p.m. Saturday, January 7, 2012 at Mount Moriah Terrace Park and Cemetery; visitation is from 1:00-3:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.  Arrangements under the direction of Mount Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home; 801 N.W. 108th Street; Kansas City, MO. (816) 734-5500

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