Robert (Bob) Nawai Blackstad of Kirksville, passed away Thursday (August 25, 2022) at Catholic Care Center in Wichita, Kansas.
The son of Axel Berger Blackstad and Hattie Haliaka (Nawai) Blackstad, born in Waimea, Kauai on September 15, 1927. Bob attended Waimea schools and graduated from Waimea High School in 1944. Following high school, Bob entered the Civil Service as an apprentice radio and then entered the Air Force. While in the service, he attended radio mechanic schools and worked on Airborne radio equipment. He was stationed in Salina, Kansas and Giebelstadt, Germany.
After the service, Bob went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to attend Milwaukee School of Engineering where he received a degree in Associated Electronics Engineering. Milwaukee is also where he met his soon to be wife, Ruth H. (Jones) Blackstad. They were married on July 12, 1952 in Waukeegan, Illinois.
Bob and Ruth moved to Wichita, Kansas where he work for Beech Aircraft and later RCA Victor Distributors. In December 1958, he was hired as an Electronics Technician by CAA which later became FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). He was stationed in Wichita for 14 years but worked all over the state of Kansas during this time. In December 1972, he was transferred to Kirksville, Missouri as a Field Office Manager, a position he held until his retirement in January 1986.
Bob was an avid learner, taking any opportunity afforded to him to attend schooling to advance his career & management skills. His site and team were recognized with numerous awards on various occasions.
His hobbies included reading, fishing, gardening, woodworking and driving “Miss Ruthie” to wherever she wanted or needed to go (e.g., hair appointments, shopping, Branson, etc). Bob even enjoyed playing Nintendo – specifically “Zelda”.
Bob was a member of the local Masonic Lodge, the York Rites, the Moila Shrine Temple and Kirksville Loyal Order of Moose Lodge. During his time with these various organizations, he served on the Board of Directors in El Kadir Shrine Club; volunteered to help with various events such as bingo, etc., and was seen every Friday or Saturday night at Shrine Club and/or Moose Club.
On several occasions, Bob was awarded the opportunity to visit his homeland Kauai and O’hana to reunite, “talk story” and reminisce with his ten (10) brothers and sisters and their families. Bob was born the 7th child out of the 10.
Bob is survived by his four (4) children; Robert W Blackstad and wife, Pat of Bellingham, WA; daughter Nancy Leilani (Blackstad) Jabara and husband, Jeff of Wichita, KS; son Richard B. Blackstad and wife, Jennifer of Kirksville, MO; and daughter Jayne Evalani (Blackstad) Spangler and husband, Shawn of Bossier City, LA. Grandchildren: Michael and Dennis Blackstad of Mesa, AZ; Jamie (Jabara) Buer and husband Eric of Shawnee, KS; Jeremy Jabara and wife, Lauren of Pennsylvania, PA and Kristopher Blackstad and partner, Shelby, of Kirksville, MO. Four (4) great grandchildren: Malia Buer; Hallie Buer; Dylan Jabara and Blake Jabara. Nephews: Steven and Joseph Zambito; niece Laurie Jane (Zambito) Fugate, all of Wisconsin. And numerous nephews & nieces; great nephews & nieces; etc of his Blackstad O’hana in Kauai, Hawaii.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Axel B. Blackstad and Hattie (Nawai) Blackstad; his wife, Ruth (Jones) Blackstad; his son-in-law Michael R. Spangler; his brother-in-law & sister-in-law Joseph Zambito & Olwen Jane (Jones) Zambito; his siblings; Mabel (Blackstad) Wongham; Alexander “Sonny” Blackstad; Florance “Tootsie” (Blackstad) Kajiwara; Elaine Leilani (Blackstad) Kaukani; Richard Roy Blackstad; Ernest Kumoku Blackstad; Joseph Manoha Blackstad; Stanley Kilohana Blackstad and Ruby Iwalani (Blackstad) Shoman.
Visitation with the family will be 10:00 am to 11:00 on Saturday (September 3, 2022) at the Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, 2100 E. Shephard Avenue, Kirksville, MO 63501.
The funeral service will follow the visitation at 11:00 am Saturday (September 3, 2022) at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home. Entombment will be in the Maple Hills Mausoleum in Kirksville, MO.
Pallbearers will be: Robert W. Blackstad; Richard Blackstad; Kristopher Blackstad; Eric Buer; Jeff Jabara; Jeremy Jabara; Steven Hart; and Joseph Zambito.
Memorials can be sent to the funeral home in Robert Blackstad’s name to be utilized for a future memorial in his name.