Robert B. “Bob” Wilhelm, 75, Hays, died Thursday, February 20, 2025, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.
He was born January 26, 1950, in Kingman, Kansas, one of five children to Dallas Eugene and Genavieve Evelyn (Blair) Wilhelm. He attended schools in Minneola, Cullison, and Belle Plaine before graduating from Sterling High School in 1968. Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1970 and attained the rank of Sergeant during the Vietnam War. He later received his BS in Biology and his MS in Zoology from Fort Hays State University. He was curator at (KSHS) Historic Fort Hays for 29 years.
He was united in marriage to Joan L. (Becker) Tippy on August 5, 1995, in Hays and joined her in raising her four children. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the American Legion, VFW, and VFW Honor Guard, the Smoky Hill Trail Association, Vietnam Veterans of America, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia Brotherhood, and the Distinguished Flying Cross Society. He was a supporter of the Hays Arts Council, the Hays Symphony, and organizations that promoted education in our community. He enjoyed listening to classical music, bird-watching, traveling, gardening, woodworking, stargazing, and photography. He loved being a full-time grandpa, was a classic movie and Star Wars buff, and passed so many of his passions on to his grandchildren. As an author he wrote for various newsletters and published a historical fiction book series titled, “Tales of the Sergeant Major” by Bob Wilhelm.
Survivors include his wife Joan, of the home in Hays, stepchildren, Merle Tippy (Toni Jensen) of Ellis, Christina Tippy (David Bodine) of Norman, OK, Jarod Tippy (Amanda) of Hays, and Brandon Tippy of Ellis, four siblings, Dallas Wilhelm, Jr. (Carol) of Elkhorn, NE, Steven Wilhelm (Teresa) of Lee’s Summit, MO, Cindy St. Peter of Corinth, TX, and Barbara Wilhelm of Wichita, seven grandchildren, Jude Tippy, Maysyn Tippy, Lucy Tippy, Michael Tippy, Joseph Bodine, Theodore Bodine, and Daniel Bodine.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Brian McCaffrey officiating. Burial with military honors by the Hays VFW #9076 Honor Guard will follow in St. Michael Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Monday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Tuesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A vigil service and rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to The Society of Friends of Old Fort Hays or to the Friends of the Hays Public Library, in care of the funeral home. Condolences and memories of Bob may be shared with his family at www.haysmemorial.com.