Robert Harwood

October 26, 2012

Robert (Bob) Alan Harwood, D.V.M. went to our heavenly Father’s Kingdom on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, from the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.
He was born March 16, 1947 in Iola, to Elmer and Marjorie Casper Harwood.
Bob attended Humboldt schools, graduating as valedictorian in 1965. He then went to Kansas State University, where he was a member of Delta Chi fraternity and graduated in 1971 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.
During summers in college he worked at H.K. Porter, the Chanute Refinery, and a marina on Grand Lake, Okla. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, doing officer training at Shepherd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, and then was stationed at Vance Air Force Base, Enid, Okla. Prior to going and following his service he was employed at the Animal Medical Center.
In 1982 he opened his own veterinary practice, Harwood Animal Hospital in Chanute. Some of Dr. Harwood’s greatest adventures were the 10 years he volunteered as a trail veterinarian on the Iditarod Dog Sled Race in Alaska, the Kuskokwim 300 in Alaska, and the Grand Portage Passage in Minnesota and Canada.
He enjoyed drag racing, flying, motorcycling, and boating on Grand Lake, Okla. He was always ready for new adventures, which included both water and snow skiing, scuba diving, parasailing in the Alps, traveling in all 50 states and many foreign countries, plus doing woodworking, fishing, playing bridge, and attending Kansas State football games, especially the bowl games.
He was a member of Chanute First United Methodist Church, Kiwanis Club (serving as treasurer for many years), AVMA, KVMA, AOPA, the Home Savings Bank Board, chairman of the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees, and president of the Hospital Foundation Board. He volunteered his time to the high school site council, Boy Scouts, 4-H, and being a Sunday school teacher, plus served on numerous church committees. He was honored as a Friend of 4-H, Kansas Kiwanis Family of Builders runnerup in both 1993 and 1994, and the Chanute Partner in Progress Award for 2010.
On June 5, 1971, he married Susan Schroeder in Independence. She survives, as well as a son, Dr. Mark Harwood, Broken Arrow, Okla.; a daughter, Ellen Gabel, a son-in-law, Maj. Greg Gabel, grandson, Trent Gabel,  Wiesbaden, Germany; brothers Dan (Darlene) Harwood, Owasso, Okla., and Joe Harwood, Ketchum, Okla.; his parents-in-law, Philip and Elvi Schroeder, brothers-in-law, Robert (Diana) Schroeder, and Thomas (Deborah) Schroeder, all of Independence; two nieces, seven nephews, three aunts, and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be Sunday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Penwell Gabel Gibson Chapel. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, with interment immediately following at Memorial Park, Chanute.
Memorials have been established for the NMRMC Foundation or First United Methodist Church Bridges to the Future campaign. To leave a special message for the family go to www.PenwellGabelChanute.com”