Friends and family of George Robare, the Lansing Correctional Facility supervisor who died Monday from complications with COVID-19, remember him as a happy man with a great sense of humor, dedicated to his family and job.
THE ROUTE -- COMING UPIN JUST A FEW MINUTES.WE'RE ALSO LEARNINGMORE TONIGHT ABOUT THEFIRST STAFF MEMBERLOST TO COVID-19 ATLANSING CORRECTIONALFACILITY.TODAY GOVERNOR LAURAKELLY SHARED THATGEORGE ROBARE -- OFTENCALLED BERNIE -- WASDEDICATED TO HIS WORK.GOV.
LAURA KELLY //KANSAS"during the 36 years that Bernieworked at Lansing.
He became abeloved and a well respectedmember of that staff.
He wasalwaysknown to do more than his fairshare,and never to leave anythingundone.For the next shift to have todoFAMILY AND COLLEAGUESARE ALSO SHARINGMEMORIES OF GEORGE.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER MCKENZIENELSON SPOKE WITHTHEM TODAY.MCKENZIE NELSON - REPORTINGFRIENDS AND FAMILY OFGEORGE ROBARE TELL MEHE WAS HAPPY,DEDICATED TO HIS FAMILYAND JOB AND HAD A GREATSENSE OF HUMOR.SUSAN ROBARE - WIDOW OFGEORGE ROBARE"Amazed at the responsesthat I have gotten from hisformer employees saying howmuch they enjoyed workingwith him and how he will bemissed."GEORGE IS SURVIVED BYHIS WIFE SUSAN - AND HISDAUGHTER RACHEL.ROBARE"We have our moments, we'llget through this with eachothers help."SUSAN TOLD 41 ACTIONNEWS THAT RACHEL WASSUPPOSED TO BE MARRIEDTHIS MONTH - BUT IT WASPOSTPONED TO NEXTYEAR DUE TO THEPANDEMIC.ROBARE"Now she's getting married,will get married in may of nextyear, and of course her fatherwon't be there to walk herdown the aisle."GEORGE served as ACORRECTIONAL OFFICERAT LANSING FOR 36 YEARS.ON TUESDAY- ANOTHEREMPLOYEE PASSED AWAY -BUT THE KANSASDEPARTMENT OFCORRECTIONS HAS NOTRELEASED A NAME.MYRON ALFORD - RETIRED,LANSING CORRECTIONALFACILITY"I knew them personally,worked with them, they weregreat officers, great humanbeings."MYRON ALFORD, who is nowretired, SAID IT WASALWAYS A GOOD DAYWHEN HE WORKED WITHTHE 2 OFFICERS.ALFORD WANTS THEIRNAMES ADDED TO THEMEMORIAL AT THE PRISONFOR OFFICERS WHO LOSTTHEIR LIVES IN THE LINEOF DUTY.ALFORD"I know as many people asthey have with the infection,the odds are somebody isgoing to die and I sure didn'twant any of them and I suredidn't want him to."SUSAN AGREES -AND WANTS PEOPLE TOREMEMBER GEORGE ANDKEEP HIS FAMILY ANDFRIENDS TOP OF MIND.ROBARE"We can't touch him, we can'tsee him, once they're placedin that bag, they cannot openit again."MCKENZIE NELSON - REPORTINGMEMORIAL SERVICES FORGEORGE WILL TAKE PLACEIN JULY - AND HE WILL BEBURIED AT THELEAVENWORTH NATIONALCEMETERY.IN LANSING, MCKENZIENELSON, 41 ACTION NEWS.THE TWO STAFF MEMBERSMARK THE FOURTH ANDFIFTH DEATHS AT THEFACILITY -- THE OTHERTHREE WERE INMATES.A TOTAL OF 754 INMATAND 88 STAFF MEMBERSHAVE BEEN INFECTWITH COVID-19.49 STAFF MEMBERS HAVERETURNED TO WORK
George Bernard Robare, 61, was known as Bernie to his family. They said he was dedicated to his country and loved ones.