We are honoring the life and legacy of Robert “Bob” Ashley Jahnke who passed away peacefully at home at the age of 81. Bob’s life was defined by the consistency of his character. Kindness, trustworthiness, service, humility, and a sincere, gentle spirit made him who he was. Bob was a father, grandfather, husband, brother, man of family and faith, lawyer, community member, soldier, and person of honor, generosity, and dignity. His commitment to his family and community was evident throughout his life.
Bob was born in Kerrville, Texas on March 11, 1945 to father Oscar Lorenz Jahnke and mother Frances Alene Hunt Jahnke. At age three, his parents moved the family to a new home in Shreveport’s Broadmoor neighborhood, their backyard tucked along the 16th hole of Querbes Park Golf Course. He began golfing on Querbes at age five and never stopped, playing regularly into his 70s. Of all the courses he played, Querbes was the one he always returned to.
Before he entered grade school at A.C. Steere, Bob peddled soda pop and found golf balls up and down Querbes’ 16th hole. At age eight, he became a paperboy in Broadmoor and stayed with it until he graduated from C.E. Byrd High School, using his earnings to buy his first car.
After graduating from LSU and LSU Law School, he began his career as a general practice attorney and continued for fifty-two years. He practiced law with deep respect for both his profession and his clients and was honored by the Louisiana State Bar Association for five decades of continuous service prior to his retirement.
While raising a family and practicing law, Bob served in the Army Reserve, eventually retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel after 28 years of service. He was a life-long member of the Shreveport Kiwanis Club and always looked forward to working their annual pancake breakfast fundraiser. He was an active and engaged member of Christ United Methodist Church for over fifty years. He lived his Christian faith with emphasis on loving one’s neighbors, bringing peace and harmony to one’s community, and avoiding judgement of others.
After retirement, Bob traveled far and wide, visiting his adult children and grandchildren and remaining engaged in their lives until his last day. He also became a regular at the Lash Family YMCA in Southeast Shreveport. While struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, Bob still maintained his daily workouts and established many new friendships at the YMCA. He was the most loving and kind father his children could have ever hoped for.
Above all, Bob was a principled man of service whose humbleness, integrity, and quiet kindness was seen and felt by all those who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his mother, father, and sister, Paula Jahnke Maxwell.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Frances Jahnke (née Lowe), his sister Janie Jahnke Roling, his children Erin Elizabeth Seffrood and her husband Ben Seffrood, his son Jonathan Ashley Jahnke and his wife Chiharu Sakai, his son Justin Robert Jahnke and his wife Anne Eugenie Palermo, as well as his grandchildren, Annabelle Virginia Tarter, Delaney Grace Seffrood, and Marcella Cole Palermo Jahnke and his beloved Shih Tzu dog, Doug. He also leaves behind his brother-in-law James “Buddy” Maxwell, nephews Jem Maxwell and Josh Roling, and nieces Katie Rodebaugh and Jennie Maxwell.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St. Shreveport, LA 71104, (318) 656-4800, and/or Christ United Methodist Church, 1204 Crabapple Dr. Shreveport, LA 71118, (318) 686-2553.
We want to thank the Lash Family YMCA, The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center, and Willis-Knighton Hospice Care for the extraordinary amount of love, compassion, energy, and encouragement they gave to Bob and his family over the last two years. The family plans a remembrance of life service at a later date.