Robert "Bob" Welling, 92, of Warrensburg, Missouri passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, on March 27, 2022. His sharp intellect, infectious smile, and magnetic personality continued to engage every person he met, even to the end of his life. He never met a stranger and cherished his relationships with family and friends.

Born in Montrose, Missouri to John and Sylvesta (Lesmeister) Welling, he enjoyed his place as youngest of the family, with his two sisters, Mary Louise and Constance, doting on their baby brother.  Music played a central role in their lives and engrained in each of them a song for every occasion. He was an Eagle Scout, a Warrior in the tribe of Mic-O-Say and a lifelong member of the National Eagle Scout Association. He happily helped his dad in the Welling Hardware store where he learned to work hard, treat people well, and use humor to keep folks smiling.

Bob attended St. John High School in Kansas City, Missouri, earned his Bachelor of Arts at Conception Seminary College, and his Juris Doctor at Saint Louis University School of Law. Immediately following graduation, his military service in the United States Army took him to France. Upon his return, he took up his private law practice in Warrensburg and began a sixty-year career guiding countless people in corporate, real estate, probate, estate, trusts, and elder law. He was a fellow in the American College of Probate Counsel, a member of the Estate Planning Committee of the American Bar Association, member of the Probate and Trust Committee of the Missouri Bar, and member of the Missouri Bar Advisory Committee on Citizenship Education.  That interdisciplinary committee consisted of Missouri Educators and Missouri Lawyers who sought to support teachers in helping their students understand the role of the legal system in a free society and the responsibility of citizens in a democracy. He received the Missouri Bar President's Award in 1985 and was awarded Senior Counselor by the United States District Court, Missouri Bar in 2005.  In 2001, Welling was proudly admitted in the United States Supreme Court.

On July 18, 1959, Welling made the best decision of his life when he married Rosalee Buhler, to whom he had been introduced by mutual friends. The couple welcomed the birth of their first child, Kathleen, who quickly wrapped her father around her little finger. When John arrived, the now seasoned father was eager to teach the newest Welling man all of the things his father had shared with him. Their third child, Stephen Douglas, a head-strong, beautiful boy, brought up the rear keeping everyone on their toes. Sadly, Stephen died of Leukemia at the age of four at St. Jude's Children's Hospital. That loss remained in his father's heart forever and drove his passion to help others and give back.

Bob, a lifelong centrist Democrat, loved strategy and policy work. He was instrumental in launching and shepherding the campaigns of both Missouri Governor Joseph P. Teasdale and U.S. Representative Ike Skelton. Skelton and Welling met in court as opposing counsel and became dear friends and trusted colleagues. When they were not planning their next political steps, they could be found plotting shenanigans. Through this partnership, Welling's interest in the military increased and his involvement with Whiteman Air Force Base included memberships on the Whiteman Air Force Base Community Council, Charter member of the Board of Whiteman Area Leadership Council. He was appointed by Governor Nixon to the Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission, and, in 2007, Bob participated in the Current Strategy Forum at Naval War College in New Port, Rhode Island.

Welling served the city of Warrensburg through its Parks and Recreation Board as Chairman of the Finance Committee, member of the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce and Military Affairs Committee, and Member of the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society of Johnson Country. In 2007, Bob and Rosalee received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Central Missouri and in 2017, Bob was awarded the Jimmy Kirkpatrick Heritage Award for Outstanding Community Service.

As a stalwart supporter of public education, Welling was appointed and confirmed by the Missouri Senate as a member of the Missouri State Board of Education. He was named moderator of the Missouri Task Force on Education for the Governor's Conference on Children and Youth.  It was that conference which gave new impetus to establishment of a statewide early childhood education program for Missouri. Bob served as President of the Missouri State Board of Education during school year 1983-1984 and in that capacity, he proposed, provided the framework for, and guided the development of a master plan for reform of elementary and secondary education in Missouri.  The product of that effort was the Missouri State Board of Education Action Plan of Education Reform entitled "Reaching for Excellence" which was adopted and published in March 1984.  His contributions to education at the national level included service as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) and chair of the NASBE Governmental Affairs Committee.  In 1984, Welling received the Horace Mann Award for Excellent Individual Contributions in Education from the Missouri National Education Association.

Bob also was deeply involved with Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City as chair of its Regional Council and member of the hospital's governing board. He also served on the Planned Gift Council, the "Discovering Tomorrow" Leadership Council, and as chair of Board of Directors of the Family Health Partners (the nonprofit subsidiary).

In addition to his own three children, his niece Mary Ellis Barry, and all their friends, Bob was a magnet for children of all ages. "Noisy Bob" "Big Welling" "Paco" and "Uncle Robert" were all names given to him by special children in his life.  However, one title remained his most cherished – grandpa.  Stephen John Welling (son of John) was born in 1991 and from day one they shared a very special bond.  Stephen, an officer in the U.S. Air Force and his wife Cambria, recently blessed the family with the first and only great-grandchild, Summer Jaymes, who quickly fell in love with her great-grandpa, his funny faces and songs.

The KC Royals, March Madness, Rachel Maddow, Jon Meacham, Halloween costumes, Tesla, singing, laughing, telling stories, hot dogs, ribs, ice cream, and popcorn were among his favorite things. Bob Welling's presence, guidance, support, and corny jokes will be missed by all who loved him.  However, he will live on through each of us when we work hard to make a difference in this world, build relationships that last a lifetime, and brighten someone's day.

Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg, Missouri. The family will receive visitors from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service. A reception will follow from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Milestones Barn north of Warrensburg. A private interment will take place at Warrensburg Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

If desired, Bob requested donations to St Jude's Children's Hospital or Children's Mercy Hospital.