Robert Wayne ‘Bob’ Buchanan, beloved husband, father, Grandpa, brother, woodworker, and toymaker, passed away in his home Tuesday, January 27th, 2026.

He is survived by his wife Kathrine, their children Matthew (Megan), Joshua (Dierdra), and Amanda (Mark), their grandchildren David, Abigail, Mason, Tyler, Natalya, and siblings Paul Buchanan, Kenny Buchanan, Patricia Hart, and Ruth Rave.

Robert Buchanan was born, the third of six children, to Rebecca and Orvill Buchanan on June 21, 1950 at Deadwood Hospital. He gained a love of nature and music in his elementary years, played the trumpet in junior high, the french horn in the high school band, and said often that one of his favorite high school memories was playing with the band during those Friday night football games. Bob graduated from Sturgis High School in 1968 before going to University of South Dakota, Vermilion for a year contemplating optometry before transferring to South Dakota School of Mines, where he studied electrical engineering, met the love of his life at a Campus Crusade Bible study, proposed with a flower-ring at the top of a waterfall, graduated in December 1972, and married Kathrine Marie Phelps in January 1973. He moved across the country to California with his new bride to pursue engineering, raised three kids, wrote technical manuals, and, after retiring, moved back to where it all began, the Black Hills, where he’d stay busily retired, working with the RCWA, playing the trumpet in the New Horizons band, and watching the deer with Kathie from their back window.

Bob was a list-maker, an organizer who could break down complex patterns into simple, repeatable steps. He was an impromptu singer, especially when Shania Twain or John Fogerty came on the radio. He was a hand-holder and citrus fruit heart-carver, married to Kathie for 53 years of growing and laughing and loving. He was a comedian, according to his grandsons, a jewelry-maker extraordinaire and the best company for a tea party, according to his granddaughters. A Rapid City Santa of sorts, he brought the joy of woodworking and creative hand-made toys to many. He collected friends just as he collected walking sticks, by seeing the hidden beauty in each person and stopping to notice.

His wife called him honey. His children called him dad and appreciated the beautiful simplicity of his wisdom. His grandkids called him funny, and marveled at his sense of humor.

And now, the Lord calls him beloved as He welcomes a fellow woodworker into His kingdom.

A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Friends and family will gather following the service for refreshments and fellowship at the Doty Volunteer Department.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Rapid City Woodworkers Association or the New Horizons Band.