Bob Blanchett

Samuel Robert "Bob" Blanchett, 94, of Cape Girardeau, and formerly of Jackson, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, at Lutheran Home.

He was born Sept. 16, 1925, in Meade County, Kansas, son of Joseph Robert and Nettie Weber Blanchett, and was one of seven children. He married Arlene Hall on Jan. 16, 1944, in Dodge City, Kansas.

Bob and his family lived in Minneola, Kansas, where he worked for the Natural Gas Pipeline of America. They were transferred to Hoffman, Illinois; Victoria, Texas; and then to Jackson in 1966. He was a longtime member of New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson and was very involved in Jackson Senior Center, washing dishes and delivering meals. He had many talents and was the guy who fixed your broken things or drove you to your doctor appointments.

Bob and Arlene enjoyed traveling in their RV with a "posse" of brothers, sisters and family friends, all over the United States. They spent winters in Mesa, Arizona, and later in Pharr, Texas. He loved playing card games, dominoes and board games. His comment, when dealt a bad hand, was always, "Great gobs of goo!" His golf swing ended with "Bear's butt," when the ball didn't go far and straight. His language could become saltier as his game degraded.

No one enjoyed eating lunch on a picnic bench more than Bob, and he referred to himself as a "picnic kind of guy." He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. To him, they were the "Redbirds" when they were winning, and the "dead birds" when they were losing.

Every summer, while working at the pipeline, Bob would hire a couple young men to do odd jobs, such as mowing the premises. You knew it wasn't a compliment when he called you "summer help." On the other hand, being called a "good woman" by Bob, meant he considered you a good worker and one he didn't mind buying an extra pair of shoes.

His humor and ways with the English language will be remembered. The family will miss that and miss him.

Survivors include children, Les (Jane) Blanchett of Victoria, Carolyn (Charlie) Snyder of Conway, Arkansas, and Bruce (Darla) Blanchett of Anna, Illinois; grandchildren, Amy Blanchett, Josh Blanchett, Matt Blanchett and Gabe Snyder; four great-grandchildren; and sister, Cleo (Darrell) Hughes of Dodge City.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 75 years, Arlene Blanchett; sisters, Nettie Lorraine Axline and Wilma Hall; and brothers, Joseph Truman and Orville Leo Blanchett.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jimmie Corbin officiating.

Many heartfelt thanks from Bob's family go out to the Lutheran Home, Lutheran Home Hospice and all the staff who attended to and took care of him.

The family suggests contributions be made to New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.