Robert "Bob" V. Staley

Robert V. "Bob" Staley, 94, longtime Atchison businessman, auctioneer and bail bondsman, died Friday, March 27, 2015 at his residence.

Mass of Christian burial will be Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Benedict's Abbey Church with Abbot Barnabas Senecal, OSB as celebrant. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Wednesday, April 1st from 9:30 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at the Abbey Church. The Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home has been entrusted with the final arrangements. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Benedict School Endowment, Elk's Scholarship Fund, Maur Hill-Mount Academy or Benedictine College athletic department and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Bob was born July 31, 1920 at Charter Oak, Iowa to Leo P. and Ethel M. Barney Malone Staley. He was baptized at St. Boniface Catholic Church, attended St. Boniface Grade School and graduated from Charter Oak High School in 1938. He farmed with his father for 5 years. He graduated from the Fred Reppert School of Auctioneering in 1942 at Decatur, Indiana and worked with Eli Kraft of Mapleton, and Bart Bielenberg of Schleswig, Iowa.

He was employed at the Ute State Bank, Ute, Iowa for 4 years and continued doing auctions during that period. In 1949 he took a salesmans job with G & G Merchandise in Nebraska and Iowa for a year living in Omaha. In 1950 he took employment with the Iowa Finance Company in Omaha and Perry, Iowa and transferred to Atchison, Kansas. He worked for this company eight years and then went into business with Dick Drury as partner in Drury Finance, Inc.

Upon Drury's retirement Rod Dierking purchased half the company as they were in the auction and bonding business as partners. They sold the Finance Company in 1985 to Avco Finance Company of St. Joseph, Missouri.

He continued in the auction and bonding business in Atchison as of 1963 and enjoyed working with the public.

He held a real estate license with Wilson Realty for over 40 years and also was a licensed Insurance Agent.

As a hobby he taught Country Western and Ballroom Dancing at Fort Leavenworth for 7 years, had classes at the Atchison YMCA, ACES Upper School and at Benedictine College.

He married Joan E. Miller of Atchison January 17, 1952.

He always raised a big garden, strawberries, grapes, raspberries, and 30 fruit trees, besides caring for the 2 acre yard and hedge.

Sports were part of his life all year long and was a big fan and supporter of Benedictine College. In 1945 he was a member of the Ute Indians AAU Basketball team. That spring they won the Sioux City and Omaha tournaments but lost in the first round of the National AAU Tourney in Denver.

He joined the Elks Club in 1950 at Perry, Iowa, was a past Exaulted Ruler of Atchison Lodge #647, Elk of the year in 1996 and Esquire for 40 plus years. He was also past President of the Fellowship Club and a member since 1956.

He served as President of the United Way in 1958 and served 18 years on the board. He was a charter member of the A.C.E. S. Endowment Fund which was formed in 1984, a past President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and on the Finance Committee at Sacred Heart for many years and usher since 1956.

In 1991 he entered his first Kansas Corn Shucking Contest and won 1st place that year and again in 92, 95, 96, 98, 99, 2000 and 2001. Each of those years he earned the right to shuck in the Nationals and his best year was First Place in 2005. He also sponsored a local contest since 1991 with the proceeds going to Maur Hill-Mount Academy High School. From there he tutored many young shuckers from the area. Several were National Champions.

At age 65 he purchased his first bicycle and rode RAGBRAI across Iowa for 542 Miles and rode all the way again in 1986, 1988 and 1989.

His mother Ethel was a rider on the Orphan Trains in 1904 from New York to Dunlap, Iowa along with her sister and two brothers. He gave programs about this period of history on many occasions.

His parents, an infant brother and a sister, Lois Holtorf preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Joan E. Staley of the couple's home, a son, Robert V. Staley, II, Atchison, KS, a daughter, Melanie (Tim) Brungardt, Atchison, KS, three brothers, Russell Staley, Cottonwood, AZ, Roger (Anita) Staley, Shawnee, KS, Charles (Orlene) Staley, Charter Oak, IA, four sisters, Pearl Quandt, Carroll, IA, Marjorie Brandt, Cherokee, IA, Evelyn Firth, Phoenix, AZ, Patty (Leo) Shanahan, Wittmann, AZ, three grandchildren, Brandi Brungardt, Cassie (Ryan) Callahan, Paul Staley and one great grandchild, Chloe Callahan.