MANHATTAN, KANSAS, US — Dr. Robert Wayne “Bob” Schoeff, recognized worldwide as an expert in grain dust explosion prevention, died on Feb. 28 at the age of 98.
He was a professor and Extension specialist at Kansas State University (KSU) specializing in marketing, management and safety in the feed and grain industry.
Schoeff was a respected consultant in the field of grain dust explosion prevention even after his retirement from KSU.
While at KSU, Schoeff created a dust explosion safety video series that was widely used by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
During his career, Schoeff was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the feed and grain industries from the Grain Elevator & Processing Society, the American Feed Industry Association and the American Feed Manufacturers Association.
He was born Sept. 15, 1921, in Huntington County, Indiana, US. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and his PhD from Purdue University.
Schoeff was commissioned in the United States Marine Corp in January 1943 and served in the South Pacific during World War II as an artillery officer. He received an honorable discharge from the Marine Corp Reserves in 1957 at the rank of captain.
He worked for several agribusinesses in Indiana and Illinois before moving to Manhattan, Kansas, in 1960 when he joined the faculty at KSU.
He was preceded in death by his wife Evelyn, his brother Richard Schoeff, his son-in-law Gary Hawkes, and his great-granddaughter Emmeline Schoeff.
Survivors include his two children: Marcia Hawkes of Argyle, Texas, and Eric Schoeff and his wife Kristin of Columbus, Ohio; his sister, Marjorie Brown of Clearwater, Florida; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the First Lutheran Church, 930 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas.
The family will receive visitors from 12-12:45 p.m. at the church on March 14. Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to either the Kansas State University Foundation for the Robert and Evelyn Schoeff Scholarship in Grain Science or the First Lutheran Church. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.