Robert Gene ("Bob") Husmann, 87, passed away on August 14, 2015. A native Houstonian, Bob enjoyed a wonderful life surrounded by family, friends and his wife of 66 years Joyce Morris Husmann, another native Houstonian.
Bob was in the first graduating class of Architecture at the University of Houston; where he noticed a cute, new brunette on campus. An introduction from mutual friends led to a life filled with joyous times with family, friends and the greatest pride of his life; his four sons, Randall, Gary, Steve and Carl.
Bob started his career in architecture working for Southwest Homes designing prefab homes manufactured in Houston. In 1961, realizing that he was making more money moonlighting in the evenings, Bob left Southwest Homes to form his own business. Soon thereafter, Bob’s brother Richard joined Bob in forming Robert Husmann Architects. Bob and Richard’s firm became an integral part of a development/ design/construction consortium that went on to design and build 50 off campus student dorms throughout the United States during the 1960's along with numerous other commercial buildings.
Robert Husmann Architects continued to grow into a successful commercial architectural firm. The practice won several awards and competitions. In 1990, Bob “semi-“ retired and his practice was taken over by his son Steve and his brother Richard, with Steve continuing the practice today after Richard’s semi-retirement. As architects never really retire.
Bob grew up always short of breath. When applying for life insurance he was referred to Dr. Lloyd Gregory, Jr. who, upon diagnosing Bob's heart murmur informed him that "we're going to get this fixed". This lead to open heart surgery in 1960 by Dr. Denton Cooley; a scary prospect for a beginning architect with a wife, 4 sons, a mortgage and no insurance. While a successful operation, due to its effect and his heart condition, Bob was on his seventh pace maker and attributes a portion of his "wealth" to all of the gold wires inside him from these pace makers. Bob never allowed his medical condition to slow him down or prevent him from enjoying life to the fullest.
Bob and Joyce “retired” to Cape Royale on Lake Livingston where they spent 22 years enjoying the good life while spoiling their 9 grandchildren. Bob and Joyce also spent these many years traveling with good friends, seeing the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe and the Greek Isles.
Bob is preceded by his parents, Augustus Jacob and Novella Northrup Husmann and his sister Ella Marie Mitchell. He is survived by his wife, Joyce, sons Randall and wife Debbie, grandsons Glenn and partner Kim, and Greg, Gary and wife Kristie, grandson Andrew, wife Katrina and great-granddaughter Alisa and granddaughter Annelies and partner Ryan, Steve and wife Karen, granddaughters Kelsey Smith and husband Jacob and Katie and partner Jon, and Carl and wife Laurie, grandsons Casjun and Sam and granddaughter Aletta, brother Richard and brother David and wife Sandra along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Bellaire United Methodist Church Chapel, 4417 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire TX, 77401, Tuesday, August 18, 2015 with Reverend Seann Duffin officiating at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the College of Architecture, University of Houston, the American Heart Foundation or the charity of your choice.
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