Robert E. La Pierre died Sept. 17, 2025 at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita. He was a resident of Great Bend since 1990.

Born in 1955 at Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina, Bob graduated from Harding University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Bible. He was also proud of his studies completed at Mcdonald’s Hamburger University prior to Seminary school.

His deep faith led him to serve on mission trips, most notably smuggling Bibles into Czechoslovakia during the summer of 1983. Bob was tech savvy and opened ACS Computers in 1994. He introduced the internet to Barton County in 1994, connecting it to the global community for the first time.

He was the son of Robert and Sallylou La Pierre. 

Bob is survived by his wife, Karen, of the home; children, Jennifer (Gary) of Wichita and Robert (Alyssa) of Colby; sister, Jeannie; brother, David (Theresa); sister-in-law Sandy Curtis (Dean); sister-in-Law Janine Leupold (Jim); and six grandchildren, Rey, Maya, Adylyn, and Henry La Pierre, and Kent and Parker Cox. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Sallylou La Pierre; and his brother-in-law, Steve (Jeannie); and brother-in-law Steven Hickel.

Funeral arrangements are handled by Baker Funeral Home in Wichita. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Wilson Lake, where family and friends will gather to celebrate Bob’s life and legacy.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Baker Funeral Home

6100 E Central Ave #203 

Wichita, KS 67208

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sept. 25, 2025