Robert Patrick Kershaw

Robert “Bob” Patrick Kershaw was born December 29, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York to Edwin Kershaw and Laura Jean Fox. When Bob was a child, the family moved from New York to Oregon while his dad was in the Air Force. He graduated from South Salem High School and shortly after joined the Army. While in the Army he served in the Vietnam War and was trained in intelligence. He was honorably discharged in the rank of Sergeant in March of 1970. After his service in the Army, he attended Oregon State University, but decided to shift his focus to law enforcement after a few terms and left the university to pursue his passion. On July 24, 1992 in Reno, Nevada Bob married Susan Biasi. Together they thrived and built a wonderful life together.  Bob was beyond honored to have spent 38 years of his professional career protecting and serving the residents of various Oregon communities as a police officer. During that span he worked for the Oregon Department of Corrections, the Marion County Sheriff’s office, Keizer Police Department and the Law Enforcement Data System before moving to southern Oregon where he was Chief of Police for the Phoenix Police Department. He retired as Chief in 2006.  He is remembered fondly by his colleagues for his great sense of humor, his dedication to the communities he served and his heart of gold. In his downtime, Bob enjoyed golfing and mowing the greens at the Santiam Golf Club, woodworking and making furniture for his home and the homes of his loved ones, freshwater fishing, traveling, RVing, general home improvement and helping family, friends and neighbors with all kinds of projects. Whatever the need, Bob was there to provide humble support. He’d never turn down a meal of prime rib and baked potatoes; it was his favorite! He loved to chat (those who know him well know he had a great knack for story telling … and he had stories aplenty to share) and never took himself too seriously. He was admired by many for being authentically himself … always! But his favorite affection by far was his family. He lived by the motto “family first” and will be remembered as a devoted husband, a loving father and a fantastic grandfather. On January 4, 2021 Bob Kershaw passed away at home in Salem, Oregon. He is preceded in death by his parents Laura and Edwin Kershaw, his brother Michael Kershaw, and his sister Sue Kershaw. He is survived by his wife, Susan; children Tiah Kershaw, Andrew (Trish) Kershaw, April (Allen) Gillette, Asia (Brad) Reardon; his grandchildren Anessa Galloway, Jasper Reardon, Griffin Reardon, Rory Reardon, Avery Gillette and Harper Gillette; and his brother Jeff Kershaw. A celebration of Bob’s life will planned for a later date.