Robert J. “Bob” Lehew, 79, of rural Hiawatha, died early Saturday, April 14, 2018, at his home.

Bob was born December 7, 1938, at Horton, KS, the son of Roy Joseph and Clara Grace Ham Lehew and had lived all of his life in the Hiawatha area. He grew up at Hiawatha where he attended schools, graduating from high school with the class of 1956. While in school,  Bob was 4 H president and FFA president.  He married Edna Lee Backhus, June 4, 1994 in Hiawatha.

Bob was a certified AI tech (artificial insemination) and traveled to area farms to breed cattle. He worked for the US Government at bin grain storage sites, but was a lifelong farmer at heart.  He took continuing education in several construction training programs. He was a residential and commercial construction worker and supervisor, and later owned his own construction company.  He loved farming, raising a garden, canning, hunting, trapping, fishing, and collecting John Deere memorabilia.  Bob helped anyone he could if he saw a need.

Survivors include his wife Edna; children: Michael (Melody) Lehew, Teri (Ron) Hand, Connie (John) Angrisani, Greggory (Cyndi) Lehew. Tricia (Eric) Perez; step-children: Billy (Cheryl) Baker, Cheryl (Seth) Tarwater; brothers;  Richard (Luella) Marker, Harry (Susan) Lehew;  20 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; 5 nieces and 1 nephew.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; mother in law Grace Backhus, 4 aunts and 4 uncles.

It was Bob’s wish to be cremated with a Celebration of his life planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at Zion Lutheran Church of Hiawatha, with Pastor Michael Dunaway officiating. Inurnment will follow at Hiawatha Cemetery.

The family will meet with friends from 9:30-10:30 prior to services.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Freedom Hospice, sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.