Bob Kerr shows off his “Lamp” tattoo during Lampie Reunion activities July 1, 2017, at the Lewis and Clark Center. Current and former Fort Leavenworth Lamp staff members — known as Lampies — toured post and participated in challenges at each tour stop during the reunion. At the stop outside of the Lewis and Clark Center, Lampies gave each other temporary tattoos using markers and the Lamp of Learning — a symbol of the Command and General Staff College, Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth and the installation’s community newspaper — as a guide. Photo by Prudence Siebert/Fort Leavenworth Lamp

Submitted by the family of ROBERT ARTHUR KERR

Longtime Command Information Officer and Fort Leavenworth Lamp Editor Robert (Bob) Kerr passed away Jan. 23, 2023, following a short but fierce battle with cancer — although no doctor has ruled out the frustrating end of the Green Bay Packer season as an unofficial contributing factor.

Bob was born to the late Donald and Zilpha (Grahn) Kerr Oct. 6, 1959, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Inspired by his father’s Army service, he enlisted under his father’s recruitment tour at age 17. During his years of service as an active-duty soldier and then Department of the Army civilian, Bob kept the military community informed by editing countless articles, as well as photographing events, writing articles (among them was a special report on the National Training Center in California when he was the departments editor of Military Intelligence magazine), and managing a team he admired and affectionately call the “Lampies.”

Bob was a man of many hobbies including gardening, cooking, hunting, fishing and attending his grand children’s many activities. He was also the proud ‘Papa’ of The Hens of Leavenworth County — a flock of backyard chickens named after famous rock stars. Bob was an award-winning hobby model-builder who primarily “scratch-built” (not built exactly as directed on the box) World War II models, including many versions of the Sherman tank. Next to his family, Bob’s second great love was the Green Bay Packers and all things football.

            Survivors include his wife of more than 38 years Susan (Brindle) Kerr; daughter Lorelei (Kerr) Winzenburg (partner Zachary Stevenson); daughter Elizabeth (Kerr) Stevenson (husband Bradley Stevenson); grandchildren Tre’ Winzenburg, Ben Winzenburg, Tyler Winzenburg, Eli Stevenson, Maverick Stevenson and Emma Stevenson; sisters Donna Kerr and Bonnie Kerr of Wisconsin; and nephews Steven Schnider and Allen Phillips.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Donald and Zilpha Kerr, in-laws Lewis and Eithel (Baker) Brindle, granddaughter Adley Stevenson and brother-in-law Kenneth Splitgerber.

The family would like to thank the incredible staff at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Dwight D. Eisenhower Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Phoenix Hospice for their incredible care, as well as the many friends and family members who provided compassionate support through this difficult time.

Bob’s come-and-go memorial service will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 17 at Leintz Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service with military honors at 1:30 p.m. at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Online condolences can be offered at https://www.leintzfh.com/.

Memorials in Bob’s name can be made to the Leavenworth County Humane Society and the Lansing Education Foundation.

For more on Bob’s contributions as longtime Fort Leavenworth Lamp editor, visit https://www.ftleavenworthlamp.com/2022/10/06/lampie-letters-to-the-former-editor/.