We lost a dedicated supporter in January. Bob served on our Endowment Board, honorary director, Barbed Wire Festival Committee, and was always willing to provide assistance on accounting and financial matters. Bob was an avid participant in the annual festival. He was known as “the leather guy” with his displays of beautiful handcrafted wallets, book covers, belts, holsters, and more.
We will always appreciate what he has done for the museum, the association, and our community.
Robert Joseph “Bob” Litson, 73, La Crosse, Kansas, passed away Monday, January 10, 2022, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.
Bob was born July 24, 1948, in Quinter, Kansas, the son of Ralph Wayne and Maxine (Mendenhall) Litson. He was a resident of La Crosse, Kansas, for 42 years, moving from Omaha, Nebraska. Bob was a 1966 graduate of Gove High School, Gove, Kansas, and a 1968 graduate of Brown Mackie College, Salina, Kansas. He was employed for 11 years by Dechant & Taylor, La Crosse, Kansas, before his retirement.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church, La Crosse, Kansas, a life member of Rush County VFW Post 3147; and a member of Walnut City Masonic Lodge #215, Rush Center, Kansas. He also crafted the belt buckles for the McCracken Rodeo every year since the rodeo’s very first year.
Bob was a United States Air Force veteran serving in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for Bravery.
On October 27, 1968, he married Merlynn O. “Lynn” Brack at the United Methodist Church, Hoisington, Kansas.
Survivors include: his wife, Merlynn “Lynn” Litson, La Crosse, Kansas; his daughter, Rachelle Hartwich (Brent), Shawnee, Kansas; his grandson, Tyler Hartwich, Shawnee, Kansas; and his granddaughter, Reese Hartwich, Shawnee, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Ron Litson, and Larry Litson.
Visitation will be Friday, January 21, 2022, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Janousek Funeral Home, La Crosse, Kansas, with the family receiving friends from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Church visitation will be Saturday, January 22, 2022, from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. at the United Methodist Church, La Crosse, Kansas.
Memorial service will be Saturday, January 22, 2022, at 10:30 A.M. at the United Methodist Church, La Crosse, Kansas, with Pastor Scott Tempero officiating. Inurnment will be in the La Crosse City Cemetery, La Crosse, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to the Rush County EMT’s, or the McCracken Rodeo, McCracken, Kansas, or the United Methodist Church, La Crosse, Kansas.