Bobbie Dean "Bob" Lambert of Kirksville, MO passed away June 15, 2023 at the age of 91 after suffering and enduring much pain from his battle with leukemia. He was under Hospice care at Kirksville Manor Care where he was blessed with a wonderful staff who cared for him.

He was born December 11, 1931 in a small house in Butte, MO. He was the only son of the late George Edward Lambert and the late Mattie Leila (Bunch) Lambert. He was also preceded in death by his two older sisters, Amilee Inez Jones of Kirksville, MO and Leota Louise Knifong of Browning, MO and his son-in-law, Mark Victor Gray of Kirksville, MO.

He was most recently preceded in death by his high school sweetheart, whom he met and instantly fell in love with in Junior High 9th grade, his beloved wife of 71 years, Lois Ann (Fortney) Lambert. She peacefully passed away in her sleep, living on the very same farm southwest of Kirksville, MO where they began their married life 71 years ago.

Bob is survived by his four children, Ellen Sue Gray (and the late Mark Gray), Lynn Ann Crnic (John Crnic), Michael Dean Lambert (Elizabeth Lambert), and Teresa Marie Daniels (Allen Daniels), all of Kirksville. He is also survived by ten precious grandchildren, Gail (Mike) McGroder of Montgomery Texas, Mindy (Chad) Collins of LeHigh Acres Florida, Marella Gray of Sugar Land Texas, Jason (Kris) Crnic of Eau Claire Wisconsin, Melanie (Joe) Potaczek of Spooner Wisconsin, Anthony Crnic of Osh Kosh Wisconsin, Michelle Lambert of Kirksville Missouri, Dr. Mark (Daette) Lambert of Homewood Illinois, Stephanie (Robert) Murrell of Kirksville Missouri, and Steven Parry of Overland Park Kansas. Bob has seventeen great and great-great grandchildren who all loved and adored him, calling him “Grandpa Bob” or “Grandpa Lambert”.

Bob lived with his family on the county line of North Salem and Browning Missouri where he started school in his first of two one-room schoolhouses a few short years before moving to a ninety-acre farm southwest of Kirksville in 1940. He graduated from the eighth grade at the Troy Mills school where he played the part of the auctioneer in a school play. He left high school the very day he turned 16 and started his first official job at the International Shoe Factory for 40 cents an hour. At the age of 18, Bob started as a lineman for Hoak Construction Company climbing poles and installing some of the first power lines to provide electricity for Northeast Missouri. Working for Missouri Power & Light brought a job offer to move to Peoria Illinois as a lineman for CILCO. Moving back to Kirksville he cleaned the stalls and sale ring at the North Sale Barn, where he was first heard playing around with a microphone. He was encouraged to attend auction college, borrowing the $200.00 tuition to attend the Reisch American School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa. Bob graduated December 17, 1960 and began his auction career. Along with partnership and ownership of furniture stores, he gained experience volunteering to sell pie supper auctions, up to two a day at various country schools in the area. He started the Bob Lambert Auction Service in 1961 combining personal property, estate, business close-out and real estate auctions all over Northeast Missouri and Southern Iowa. In 1967 he built the Bob Lambert Auction barn west of Kirksville continuing the popular weekly Friday night consignment sales and began Monday night wholesale dealer only automobile auctions. As a popular auctioneer, he contracted bid calling at other out of state auto auctions. In 1973 he became only the second instructor to teach automobile auctioneering at the historic Reisch World Wide College of Auctioneering, recommended by Col. Joe Reisch himself. He never missed a term in fifteen years. After selling his auction business, Bob used his self-taught pilot’s license to fly his private plane to weekly auto auctions including Des Moines Iowa every Tuesday, Minneapolis Minnesota every Wednesday, and two auto auctions on the same day in Chicago Illinois for many years. Bob constructed the Troy Mills Country Store and complex while working to put Troy Mills Missouri back on the map. He was solely responsible for restoring the Troy Mills highway signs. He had a strong work ethic at a young age, beginning with working teams of horses on his family’s farm and continuing to mow his own yard until 90 years of age. Bob and Lois were always side-by-side in any and every endeavor. Whether working auctions to traveling on their Honda Goldwing on many trips, they were always together. Their favorite pastime was dancing, beginning with square dancing at various country schools when dating at the age of 16 to winning multiple Missouri State Fair honors in their golden years. The family is comforted knowing they are reunited, dancing again in each other’s arms. Bob helped build the Countryside Christian Church at Troy Mills having membership there until his passing. He also attended New Hope Church in Kirksville.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 24, 2023 at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, with Dr. Mark Lambert officiating. Family will receive friends Saturday, one hour before the service. After the service, Bob will be cremated. The family will honor Bob and Lois’ wishes after their passing for their ashes to be combined. They will be buried in Maple Hills Cemetery at a later date, wanting to be together for eternity.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Hospice of Northeast Missouri in Bob’s memory. They may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.