Robert Dr. Bob" Taussig

ROBERT ALLEN TAUSSIG (Dr. Bob) of Manhattan, Kansas, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on May 21, 2012, one week short of his 89th birthday. Dr. Bob was born to Paul and Elsie Taussig in Denver, Colorado on May 29, 1923 after his mother rolled out of a horse-drawn wagon on the way to the hospital. He started life in a log cabin on a successful Hereford cattle ranch in Kremmling, Colorado, graduated from high school in Kremmling, and headed off to Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois where he met the love of his life, city girl Mary Irene Marth. The next year he transferred to Colorado State University where he graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1945. Dr. Bob and Mary were married in Dixon, Illinois on June 24, 1945. In 1946, Dr. Bob opened the Morningside Veterinary Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, where he practiced large and small animal medicine for 20 years. Seven children were born to Dr. Bob and Mary during their Sioux City years. In 1966, Dr. Bob accepted a position as a teaching clinician in the College of Veterinary Medicine of Kansas State University (KSU), located in Manhattan, KS. During the next six years, he earned a Master's Degree in Urology and was Director of hospital out-patient services. During a four-year hiatus in Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, sponsored by US A.I.D, Dr. Bob befriended people of the rural nomadic Fulani tribe. He taught his students by giving on-site care not only for the Fulani's Zebu cattle herds, but the Fulani children and Fulani wives, as well. While in Nigeria, Dr. Bob and Mary initiated the Navigators of Nigeria, a Christian organization for teaching and mentoring students in the Christian faith. Dr. Bob returned to KSU in 1976. He was the Zoological Medicine section head at the teaching hospital, and later became principle veterinarian at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan. During his tenure at KSU, he made important advances in the recognition and treatment of the urinary diseases of cats. From 1983 to 1984, Dr. Bob and Mary lived in Dominica and St. Kitts in the West Indies, where Dr. Bob was a professor of Veterinary Medicine at Ross University. Dr. Bob retired from KSU on April 26, 1988. In his retirement years, his days were filled with service to International students through HIS (Helping International Students), an organization that he and Mary established in Manhattan following their years in Nigeria. They strived to introduce every International student to an American family, and more importantly, to Jesus Christ whom they served so joyously. They were also instrumental in the founding of ACMI (Association of Christians Ministering among Internationals). Dr. Bob spent hours every day mentoring Internationals all over the world through the Internet. In 2004, Dr. Bob and Mary returned to Nigeria to celebrate the Nigerian Navigators' 30th anniversary, where they were recognized as its founders. At KSU, Dr. Bob was presented with the E.R. Frank Award, which honors veterinarians who have contributed positively and significantly to Veterinary Medicine throughout their long-term service to the College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Bob lived his life with excellence. He was admired by his family for his faithfulness, his servanthood, his quiet leadership, and his unerring kindness. He gave Mary a gift, as well as a flower and a love poem, on the 24th day of every month for many years to celebrate his love for her. He took delight in nature, music, gardening, and a well-placed practical joke. Dr. Bob was a member of Grace Baptist Church for 48 years. He was the inspiration behind the International Sunday School class and its teacher for many years. He was an active member of Manhattan's chapter of Gideons International. He will be best remembered for his unwavering devotion to Jesus Christ and his assurance that he would praise God in His presence for eternity because of God's sacrificial gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He experienced much joy in his life, but he knew sorrow. His parents, his brother Warren, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, his 22-year-old granddaughter Jayney Taussig and his infant great granddaughter Grace Pierce preceded him into God's presence. His memory will be cherished by his wife of 67 years, Mary Irene Taussig, his seven children Letitia Thomas (Lindon), Susan Gras (Dave), Paul Taussig (Martha), Timothy Taussig (Janice), former mayor of Manhattan Mark Taussig (Susan), Elizabeth Zouein (Simon), and Andrew Taussig (Sylvia). He leaves 35 grandchildren and 60 great grandchildren. Visitation and viewing will be all day on Thursday, May 24th at Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, with the family present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The funeral will be held Friday, May 25th at 10:30 am at Grace Baptist Church, Manhattan, KS, with a pre-funeral viewing and video beginning at 9:30 am. Memorial gifts may be sent to The Gideons and to the Christian Veterinary Mission in Dr. Bob's memory, or may be left at Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home & Cremation or the church.