Robert LeRoy Siddens was born on Labor Day on September 6, 1942 in Kansas City, Missouri, to his father, Valley Emery Siddens, and his mother, Anita Marion Miller Van Deventer. Robert passed away October 1, 2021.
“Bob” as he was known by friends and family was raised on a farm near Eagleville, Missouri, and graduated from North Harrison High in Eagleville in 1960. After graduation, he was drafted into the United States Army and served honorably in Korea. Upon discharge he moved back to Kansas City and started a 33-year career with Ford Motor Company at the Kansas City Assembly Plant.
In December of 1969, Bob was married to Karen Ann Moore Durham from Marshall, Missouri, who he had met and started dating a year earlier at a New Year Eve’s party in Marshall by invitation from a mutual friend and co-worker at Ford. Bob and Karen bought property and a home in Holt, Missouri, and were married for 52 years. They had two children, son, Mickey Durham, and daughter, Tanya Howton.
Bob was an avid bowler and pool player who won numerous trophies for league play in both sports. After retirement from Ford, he worked part-time at the Excelsior Springs Public Golf Course as a maintenance and grounds keeper. One perk was free golf there and he became an avid and exceptional golf player – playing around the country whenever he could while vacationing and also won trophies in local tournaments including one for “A Hole in One”!
Bob was also proud of his godson, Coy Young of Blythedale, Missouri; and his grandchildren, Amanda and Melanie Durham of Kearney, Missouri, and Cale and Colin Howton of Pleasant Valley, Missouri; and his great-grandson, Aiden Tanner of Kearney.
We appreciate the love and comforting condolences our family has received. Thank you all and may God bless each and every one of you.
The family of Bob Siddens.
Our Sincere Condolences
I stopped back in June and saw Bob and Karen on the way back from a baseball tryout for my oldest step son Keygun. He had a hard time remembering who I was until I told him I was Rex Youngs son and his God Son. He perked up and his eyes lit up and I could tell he knew who I was. I hadn’t been by in years and sure was glad I stopped and had a chat for a while when I did. I’ll never forget when I moved in with Bob right out of high school for a couple months until I got a Job at Gateway computers downtown. We had a ton of fun shooting pool and him kicking my ass 32 games to 4. He would never let up and let me with a game, which made me a better player. If it wasn’t for him I would never had taken up golfing. He gave me an old set of Northwestern K-Mart clubs to use in high school along with 12 dozen golf balls. He was a great God father and I will miss him very much. I bet dad and him are catching up on a lot of things. Love ya guys, sorry for your loss. I just found out today.
Coy Young
