Richard "Bruce" Taggart

Richard “Bruce” Taggart

Richard “Bruce” Taggart, 70, Hays, passed away Sunday, November 10, 2019 in Russell County.

He was born September 30, 1949 to Margaret (Parham) and Richard H. Taggart in Manhattan, Kansas.  He grew up in Hays, Kansas and graduated from Hays High School in the class of 1967.  After high school, he attended Fort Hays State University and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 1972.  He attended Kansas State University and received his Master’s Degree in Biology in 1974.  In 1974 he went to work for the Department of Fish and Game, retiring from that agency in December 2009.

On January 31, 1970 he was united in marriage to Germaine Bollig in WaKeeney.  They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January of 2020. Bruce was devoted to his family.  He was an avid outdoorsman and determined to share his passion for hunting and fishing, especially with his grandchildren.   He loved to cook, entertain, and enjoyed spending time at the cabin he built from an abandoned granary in Trego County.

Survivors include his wife, Germaine of the home in Hays, his mother-in-law; Christina Bollig of WaKeeney, a son; Travis Taggart (Sarah) of Hays, a daughter; Kelsey Pipkin (Nick) of Berryton, a brother; Tom Taggart (Janet) of Bunker Hill, two sisters; Connie Taggart of Shawnee Mission and Phyllis Shipley (Steve) of Gladstone, MO,  six grandchildren; MacKenzie Schuckman (Kelton) of Hill City, Meg Taggart of Hays, Adyson Pipkin of Berryton, Jesse Taggart of Hays, Trace Jacobs of Hays, and Josiah Shirley of Emporia, and a great grandson; Sullivan Schuckman of Hill City.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law; Julius Bollig.

To celebrate Bruce’s life, his family will receive friends from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon on Friday, November 15, 2019 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.  A luncheon will follow.  A private family burial will be at a later date.  Memorials are suggested in Bruce’s memory to the Taggart Grandchildren Scholarship Fund.  Condolences and memories of Bruce may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

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