Robert Asher Obituary

Bob Asher, 81, of Kansas City, Missouri, was born April 24, 1943, in Wichita, Kansas to Dr. Henry H. Asher III, MD and Berenice (Bollman) Asher, RN; joining his sibling, Henry H. Asher IV. Bob passed away on February 18, 2025, at NorthCare Hospice House.

After a brief illness and death of his father in the upper peninsula of Michigan when Bob was 8 months old, He, his mother and brother moved to Lawrence, Kansas to his father's and paternal grandparents' hometown. Bob graduated from Lawrence High School as the class president in 1961. He attended classes at the University of Kansas until his mother's sudden death in 1963. Following a couple of years of entrepreneurial ventures, he began what was to become his career in the electrical construction industry, starting as a laborer on airport lighting projects throughout the Midwest with Capital Electric Construction Co., a small electrical contractor in Leavenworth, Kansas. As the Company grew and expanded into two related construction firms, Bob advanced within the companies and became instrumental with the development and growth of Capital Electric Line Builders, which built and maintained powerlines for electric utility companies as well as street lighting and traffic signalization for municipalities and state departments of transportation. In 1983 he was promoted to Vice President of Field Operations. Bob retired from Capital Electric Line Builders as its Executive Vice-President in 2005 after 40 years. Following 14 months of boring retirement, Bob accepted an opportunity to become the Director of Labor Relations for Houston based Quanta Services, Inc., an international Fortune 500 electric power and gas distribution construction conglomerate. He remained with Quanta for eleven years until once again retiring in 2017.

During his 51 years in the electric power business, Bob was active in the industry's multinational trade organization, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), serving terms on its Government Affairs and Apprentice Training national committees and as an accredited representative and board member for his employer's participation in various district NECA chapters across the United States. He had also been a Trustee on two area apprenticeship training programs covering twelve states. Bob was most proud of serving thirteen years as a Trustee, two of which as its Chairman, on the Line Construction Benefit Fund (LINECO) Board of Trustees, the industry's principal nationwide health and welfare program for powerline workers and their families. Bob felt a deep responsibility for high quality skills training, continuing education, safety training and healthcare for workers in the industry he had great passion for.

Along the way, Bob met who was to become his bride, soulmate and best friend; and in 1972 he and Marie Hutcheson were married. In 1974 Bob and Marie became the parents of Bob Jr. and in 1976 the family moved from Leavenworth to Kansas City, Missouri. That same year their daughter, Amy Michelle joined the party. In 2008 Amy and husband Arian presented a beautiful baby to proud grandparents, uncle Bobby, and aunt Renée.

Bob was preceded in death by his father (1944), his mother (1963), brother (2014), and daughter Amy M. "Shel" Gimbutas (2020). He is survived by his wife Marie of the home, son Bob Jr. (Renée Asher), son-in-law Arian Gimbutas, and grandchild Onyx Gimbutas; all residing in Kansas City, Missouri.

The family wants to thank Dr. Karl Stark and his fantastic nurses and staff at North Kansas City Hospital's Wound Healing Center and Dr. Michael Raybould for their many years of devoted care and treatment of Bob's complications from diabetes.

Bob had a major dislike for funerals, especially his own, so as he requested, an informal Gathering for family to meet with friends and associates on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 from 1:30 -3:00 p.m., at Meyers Northland Chapel 401 Main St. Parkville, MO for an informal gathering. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates contributions to the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City. Memories of Bob and condolences to the family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com