Robert Francis Jeaudoin, better know as “Hangman Bobby Jaggers”, 64, of Dunlap, Kansas, died September 30, 2012 in Covington, Louisiana. He was working for FEMA, stationed in Louisiana doing a disaster relief project.
He was born January 8, 1948 in Vancouver, Washington, the son of Elizabeth Jean and Francis Lodgsten. Elizabeth later married Lewis Jeaudoin and Robert took the Jeaudoin name. He attended Hudsons Bay High School. In 1966, Robert was drafted into the United States Army. He served a year and a half in Vietnam. He was in the “A” Battery of the 1/30 Artillery 1st Calvary and fought in battles in Hue, Khe Saah, A-Shau Valley and the Tet offensive.
In 1971, he entered the world of wrestling. His wrestling career earned him the professional name of “Hangman Bobby Jaggers”. He was also in a tag team partnership with Dutch Mantell as the “The Kansas Jayhawks”. During his career, he traveled to several different states and countries, including Japan, Canada and South Africa.
Robert married Donna Faye Herron on July 8, 1977, in Dunlap. From that union, they had two daughters Elizabeth Louise and Amanda Fay and a special nephew Rocky, whom he considered their son. After retiring from wrestling in 1989, he and his family settled in Dunlap, working for IBP and in the oil fields. In 1997, Robert earned a Civil Engineering Degree and was employed by the State of Kansas as an Engineer Technician. In 2007, he started working for FEMA, as a road and bridge specialist for disaster relief projects.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He took trips to Colorado and Wyoming for elk hunting and was skilled in both rifle and bow. He enjoyed having friends come to Kansas to deer hunt. Every year in March, he went to Oklahoma to snag spoonbill.
Robert is survived by his wife Donna, of the home; daughters Elizabeth and husband Dan Rohloff, of Wilsey and Amanda and husband Cory Cain, of Americus; son Rocky Washburn and wife Wendi, of Council Grove; grandchildren Asiah Elizabeth and Witten Lawrence Cain and Tyler Neal and Kolby Bryan Washburn; brother Kerry Steven Carney-DeFord, of San Diego, CA; nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by both parents.
At his request, Robert has been cremated. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M., October 10, 2012, at the Community Christian Church in Council Grove, with military funeral honors. A private family inurnment will follow at Dunlap Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Robert Jeaudoin Memorial Fund, which will go towards his grandchildren’s education. They may be sent in care of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, PO Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846.
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