Robert “Bob” Henry Breig graduated from this life into glory to join Sunday services in Heaven, on Sunday morning, November 4, 2012, after a long illness at the age of 69. He was born on February 17, 1943, in Alton, IL, the second of 4 children. He lived a full and faithful life in the service of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with a fervent desire always to glorify God to his utmost ability, all the days of his life.
After growing up in a Baptist church under the pulpit of his father, he graduated from Central High School in Springfield, MO, in 1961, and married Carol Jean Ward on August 25, 1962. Their union was blessed with three children before Carol succumbed to Multiple Sclerosis, and eventually preceded him in death in 1990.
Knowing Bob needed a loving, Christian helpmate, God later brought Helen Webb into his life. They were married on October 8, 1994, and they lovingly blended their families. He joyfully embraced the role of father to her three children, Sherry Bennett, David Webb, and Buddy Webb, and their families. For the last several years, Bob and Helen have attended, served, and worked together faithfully at Hope Community Church, in Springfield, MO.
Though he worked in varied professions, from sales to restaurant owner, his primary profession was to minister to anyone he felt the Holy Spirit had led across his path. He was a steadfast patriarch to his entire family, and many friends.
Bob loved music, and the Lord inspired him to write many songs of praise and worship, which he could then share with his friends and family. His life was a testimony of God’s blessings and an example of utter dependence on Him that few could match. He had a heart for the unsaved, and had the opportunity to share the gospel on a missionary trip to Haiti. The Lord blessed him with a trip to the Holy Land, as well, which always held a special place in his heart. Even though Haiti was his only mission trip abroad, all who knew him would agree that he worked the mission field every day of his life.
Besides his ministry, Bob loved to cook, camp, canoe, hunt, and fish. He especially enjoyed spending time with family, and listening to Southern gospel music. He also enjoyed a good joke or a funny story, and loved to laugh heartily. He always loved to praise God by whistling to all the old hymns. His beautiful whistling was well-known and dearly loved by anyone who spent much time with him.
As a loving Christian father, his most fervent prayer was that all his children would serve the Lord with their lives, and God granted him the blessing of seeing that reality.
In addition to Carol, Bob was also preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Henry J. and Virginia L. (Johnson) Breig.
Bob is survived by his wife of 18 years, Helen, one aunt, June Frei, of Enid, OK, his daughter, Vanessa (Orchard), and her husband, Rev. Mark Orchard, of Bois d’Arc, MO, his son, John, and his wife, Christine, of Springfield, MO, and his son, Joshua, and his wife, Jamie, of Clever, MO, two sisters, Janet Rinkenbaugh, of Kansas City, MO, and her husband, Ron, and Ethel DeBacker, of Lee’s Summit, MO, and her husband, Don, and one brother, Herschel Breig, of Nixa, MO, and his wife, Linda, and a host of cousins, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many, many friends who loved him.
Visitation is Thursday, November 8, from 7-8:30 pm, and the funeral services will be Friday, November 9, at 10 am, at Greenlawn East in Springfield, MO. Interment will be in the mausoleum at Greenlawn North. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the missionary fund at Hope Community Church.