Bobby Gene Vassar

Bobby "Bob" Gene Vassar, 74, of Hartford lost his battle with lung/bone cancer on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. He was surrounded by his loving family as he took his last breath of life here on earth.

Bob was the owner and operator of Vassar Farms in Hartford since 1965.

The family will welcome friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at the Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford. A private "return to the farm" memorial ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at Vassar Farms with a Farmall antique tractor procession to the church. All family and friends are invited to a celebration of Bob's life that will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Hartford Federated Church with Rob Vassar officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hartford. A luncheon will follow at Vassar Farms. Condolences for the family may be sent online to http://www.calvin-leonardfh.com.

Bob was born on Jan. 5, 1942, to Gene and Annamae Lucille (Hearty) Vassar in Blytheville, Ark., both of whom preceded him in passing. Bob was the eldest son of Gene and Lucy's nine children. He moved to Hartford in 1958, where he met the love of his life, Hazel Weston. Bob married Hazel on Nov. 4, 1960, and cherished almost 57 years together. He started his family farm in 1965, using a pet mule as collateral for his first mortgage.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Hazel; sons, Robert E. Vassar of St. Joseph and Steven A. (Karla) Vassar of Hartford; daughter, Alisa A. (Richard) Clark of Hartford; four grandchildren: Dr. Justin (Nina) Vassar, Joshua (Berenice Lopez-Vazquez) Vassar, and Ashley and Coty Clark; and two great-grandchildren, Luke and Olivia Vassar. He is also survived by four brothers: C.L. Pete (Jimmie) Vassar of Hartford, Jerry (Connie) Vassar of Manila, Ark., Phillip (Debra) Vassar of Jonesboro, Ark., and Terry Vassar of Manila, Ark.; and two sisters, Bonnie (Boyd) Estes of Mammoth Springs, Ark., and Linda Coleman of Manila, Ark. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Anna Mae Miles and Deborah Kay Vassar; and a grandson, Richard Clark III.