Robert W. Champion

Robert "Rob" W. Champion, 90, of Topeka, passed away Tuesday, January 29, 2013. He was born January 2, 1923, in Wells, MI, the only child of William and Elsa Bloomquist Champion.

Rob enjoyed the adventure of life. The family moved to Newberry, MI, where he spent his growing years. After high school, he attended Michigan Tech in Houghton, MI. When WWII began, Rob left college and joined the Army where he became an instructor.

Rob married Gara June Rock on December 31, 1943, in Laramie, WY. He went back to college after the war where he earned his BS from Michigan Tech and Master's Degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan. He joined Western Electric and worked on the Nike Missile Project at various proving grounds. He transferred to Winston- Salem, NC, where his only child Terri Ann was born. Rob, Gari, and Terri moved to Sault Ste. Marie, MI, where his adventure continued. Rob worked as a college professor, a motel owner and operator, and a real estate builder and broker.

After he retired in 1988, Gari and Rob bought a boat and traveled the Mississippi and up the East Coast back into the Great Lakes. In 1991, they relocated to Topeka to help raise their two granddaughters, Kirsten and Courtney. He then indulged his artistic side through pottery, sculpting, painting and woodworking. Rob was an active member of First Lutheran Church.

Rob is survived by his wife of 69 years, Gari; his daughter, Terri McManus and her husband, Craig; and granddaughters, Kirsten McManus and Courtney McManus.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. Rob will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to First Lutheran Church, 1234 SW Fairlawn St., Topeka, KS 66604.